Keeping Valentine's Day Blooms Fresh

Romance abounds with this bouquet from David Austin Roses. Available through your local florist. Credit: David Austin Roses

Millions will receive flowers for Valentine's Day. In fact, roses are the #1 choice when selecting Valentine's Day flowers.  Many are choosing roses, but in non-traditional ways. The romance and allure of garden roses has created a great demand for these types of blooms as cut flowers and we are seeing many people making these selections over the  typical dozen long stemmed red roses.  Whichever type of flowers you send this year, there are a few simple tips and tricks for keeping those blooms fresh well after the big day. 


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Here are my tips for keeping those Valentine’s Day blooms fresh:

If they arrive in a box or wrapped in cellophane, remove them immediately and prepare them for a vase as follows:

• Fill your container with equal parts water and lemon-lime soda.
• Add a penny. (copper is a natural anti bacterial agent)
• Cut the end of the stems of each of the flowers and foliage you receive. The roses don’t care whether you cut straight across or on a slant. Just cut them. This cut allows the stems to be hydrated.
• As soon as you cut them plunge the stems into the mixture of water & soda. 
• Arrange as necessary.

Repeat this step every 2 days. As the stems become shorter and some of the blooms begin to fade, divide and move them to smaller containers. As the additional filler foliage fades, I add some from my garden. Rosemary, boxwood and others make great fillers and will give your blooms a new look.
Most people find that by following these simple steps, you can extend the life of your blooms up to 14 days.

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