DIY Wedding flowers are easy to care for with proper care and handling. Below are tips presented to help make the most out your fresh cut flowers that promote maximization of floral vase life and quality.
Once flowers have been received, it is necessary to trim their stems. Some exceptions to this rule apply when the flowers are hyacinths, gardenias, lily of the valley, or stephanotis which should not be trimmed. With other cut flowers, however, trim up to 1 inch off depending on the condition of the stem. Be sure to cut at an angle which helps maximize their water drinking area. Trimming stems underwater is also helpful due to the pressure created when cutting stems, through which water can be pumped into the stem.
Once trimmed, place the fresh cut stems in buckets filled with water and floral preservative. Use de-chlorinated water where possible. Be sure the buckets used are clean and free of contamination. Bleach is helpful when sanitizing buckets.
Depending on the state of the flower blooms, you may want to store the flowers in a cooler which extends the flowers’ vase life. Coolers can be kept down to about 40F. Tropical flowers, on the other hand, should not be placed in the cooler as they are accustomed to warm temperatures.
If your blooms are closed too much and you wish to promote blooming, continue use of flower food in the water and move your blooms to warmer temperatures. Similarly, if your flowers are quickly blooming and you wish to slow the rate of opening petals, move your flowers to a cooler room and cease from using any more floral preservative in the water.
Hopefully with these tips, you are able to employ them and enjoy a long flower life with your fresh cut diy wedding flowers. Just remember to use common sense and always enlist the help of a florist or flower wholesale company for questions.
