1. Always use a clean container or vase

Wash your vase or container between arrangements. Bacteria can build up and does not go away just because your vase is dry! To give your arrangement the longest life, wash it in hot soapy water or run it through your dishwasher.

2. Trim the stems and remove any foliage below the water line.

Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle using clean sharp scissors (or floral snips) to ensure a cleaner cut. Trim the stems every couple of days.

3. Clean Water Daily

One of the best tips for getting the most vase life out of your flowers is to change the water daily with fresh, cold water. The water should look good enough to drink! To ensure the water stays clean, remove any leaves or foliage from the stems that fall under the waterline of the vase and trim the stems every time you change the water. Remember the stem is like a straw, if the vase is dirty or the water is getting murky that means the stem is going to get clogged with bacteria and the flower will not be able to drink which drastically reduces vase life.

4. Keep in indirect light, away from heat sources and ripening food which produces ethylene

Place your flowers in the vase and keep them in indirect sunlight.

Avoid exposing flowers to these producers of ethylene gas:

• Ripening fruit – keep flowers away from fresh fruit

• Cigarette smoke

5. Optional - Use the Flower Food

Use a packet of flower food or if you need to make your own or run out, you can replicate it at home by making one of these two options:

1. Mix two tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of sugar, one quarter-tablespoon bleach, and one-quart lukewarm water.

2. Bleach-free option: Mix two tablespoons white vinegar, two tablespoons sugar, and one-quart of lukewarm water.

6. Remove Stems as Needed

Every stem has a different expected vase life. As blooms expire, pull them out from the bouquet to keep the other blooms fresh. For flowers like snapdragons and gladiolas, remove the flowers as they fade at the bottom of the stem to encourage the flowers to continue to bloom up the stem.

Some Exceptions to the rules:

Do not trim daffodils, they exude a sticky sap that is toxic to many other flowers, especially tulips.

Zinnias, sunflowers, and gladiolas do not like flower food.

Dahlias are an excellent event flower, they come in every color, shape, and size you can imagine…. the other side of the coin is they have a relatively short vase life compared to most flowers; however, with proper care, the flowers put on a vibrant show for typically five to seven days. The bigger the dahlia, the shorter the vase life.