Freshly cut flowers can brighten up any room and provide you with a sweet-smelling natural aroma. However, if not cared for properly, they will die and decay before reaching their full potential.
'Cut flowers look beautiful in the home, they're great for adding extra colour and character into any room. They're also known to relieve anxiety and stress,' says Chris Bonnett, founder of Gardening Express, 'A lot of people aren't aware of how to care for their flowers properly which means they don't get to enjoy them for long enough.'
The way we cut the stems, the type of vase we choose and the temperature of the room, all makes a huge difference to the longevity of cut flowers. Follow these seven steps from the experts to make your cut flowers last longer.
1. Cut your flowers properly
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not cutting the stems properly. Make sure you have a sharp knife or secateurs and cut the stem at a 45 degree angle the first time you put the flowers in the vase, and each time you replace the water. This angle will provide the stem with the largest surface area possible, meaning it can absorb more water.
2. Choose the right vase
The right vase can determine how long your flowers stay fresh for, and choosing the right vase depends on the type of flowers you have. As a general rule, heavier flower arrangements should be kept in a short vase and should have short stems. This gives the flowers more room as they bloom. A lighter selection of flowers can be placed in a taller vase as they'll take up less room as they grow.
Striped Cylinder Glass Vase
Glass vase
Ripple Glass Vase, H23cm, Green
Riviera Stripe Yellow Ceramic Vase
Apothecary Statement Vase
Scarlett Vintage Vase
3. Use the flower food provided
Most cut flowers come with a packet of flower food which a lot of people tend to disregard. Fill up the vase and add the sachet into the water. If your flowers don't come with flower food, you can easily make your own at home. Mix together two tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of bleach for every litre of water. This will slow down bacteria growth and keep your flowers fresh for longer.
4. Keep the flowers away from heat
You may think placing cut flowers near sunlight is best for their growth, but actually, cut flowers thrive in a cooler environment. Avoid keeping them anywhere in your home that gets too warm and humid.
5. Change the water every other day
Bacteria thrives in stale water so it's important to change the water every other day to keep it fresh, and in turn, get the most out of your flowers.
6. Don’t forget to wash the vase
Each time you change the water, you'll also want to give your vase a really good clean with warm soapy water. Give it a good rinse to ensure all the soapy residue is off before putting your flowers back in.
7. Clean up foliage below water level
It's important to keep the water in your vase clean, so you should remove any foliage that is on the stems below water level. Leaving foliage in the water could cause it to rot, which will harm your flowers.
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21 great gardening books for tips on plants, design and wellbeing
Most gifted gardening book
Gardener’s World: How I Garden: Easy ideas & inspiration for making beautiful gardens anywhere
Adam Frost's practical, no-nonsense approach will help you plan and build a garden that works for you. The Gardeners' World presenter takes you step by step through the whole process, whether you have a window box or a charming veg patch.
Struggling to keep your houseplants alive? Wondering why leaves are turning yellow? This is the book for you. Sarah, also known as @theplantrescuer, is a self-taught houseplant obsessive who fills each page with her top tips on how to revive wilting plants. It has been described as a book to 'help your plants not only survive but thrive'.
Wellbeing gardening book
Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul: How to Nurture Your Well-Being with Nature
Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul celebrates the benefits of gardening — and how nature can boost our wellbeing. Highlights include learning about birdsong, exploring which plants release scents to soothe the mind, and how we can all promote feelings of balance and calm.
Modern gardening book
The Modern Gardener: A practical guide to gardening creatively, productively and sustainably
Now 11% Off
Slip on your gardening gloves...Francis Tophill's book is packed with everything the modern gardener needs. You'll find plant advice, plant-based recipes, and tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Create a space that looks beautiful and attracts wildlife.
National Trust gardening book
The National Trust GROW: Fill your world with plants (National Trust)
Whether you want to create a mini wildflower meadow or make the most of your houseplants, this beautifully illustrated book from the National Trust is a fresh take on gardening. Plant lovers, this one is for you...
Nancy Birtwhistle's The Green Gardening Handbook does what it says on the tin. Featuring over 100 tips to help you grow with confidence, chapters include composting, seasonal recipes, guides to freezing, storing and preserving, and basic gardening equipment. It also features clever tips that will help you save money and reduce waste at home.
Container gardening book
Modern Container Gardening: How to Create a Stylish Small-Space Garden Anywhere
Isabelle Palmer shows you how to make the most of every little space with a series of projects for small gardens, singular containers and window boxes, that can be completed in a day or weekend. Perfect for novice gardeners, Modern Container Gardening offers beautiful photography and clear step-by-step instructions.
Expert gardening book
National Trust School of Gardening: Practical Advice from the Experts
The National Trust employs over 500 gardeners with an extraordinary wealth of expertise. And now, in this in-depth guide, they pass on their wisdom and provide the answers any new and seasoned gardener is looking for. This book is intended to give you inspiration and confidence to make the most of your garden, without being overwhelmed with unnecessary technical detail.
Gardening Books
Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month
Veg In One Bed explains how to build your bed and grow from seed, as well advice on planting, feeding, and harvesting. YouTube gardening star Huw Richards shows how to guarantee early success by starting off young plants on a windowsill and suggests what to grow in each part of the bed.
Create a beautiful wildlife haven at home with the RHS' Little Book of Wild Gardening. Divided into sections for different areas — including lawns, flower beds, edibles, trees and water features – you'll find tips, tricks and helpful ideas for every space.
The Practical House Plant Book by the RHS contains a dozen step-by-step projects to help you assemble an eye-catching terrarium, create a floating kokedama 'string garden', or propagate succulents. Complete with 175 in-depth plant profiles, this is an essential practical guide for indoor gardeners.
Small garden gardening book
Small Garden Style: A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers
A small garden space – an urban patio, a tiny backyard, or even just a pot by your door – doesn't have to sacrifice style. In Small Garden Style, garden designer Isa Hendry Eaton and lifestyle writer Jennifer Blaise Kramer show you how to use good design to create a joyful, elegant, and exciting yet compact outdoor living space.
No dig gardening book
Charles Dowding's No Dig Gardening: From Weeds to Vegetables Easily and Quickly: Course 1
Charles Dowding, innovator of no dig, teaches you everything you need to know about this method of organic gardening. With 19 chapters, you'll learn how to use no dig on different soil types, recognise and massively reduce the different types of weeds, know the difference between soil and types of compost, and grow an abundance of vegetables using the no dig method.
Flowers gardening book
In Bloom: Growing, harvesting and arranging flowers all year round
Get all the inspiration you need for planting cut flowers, and fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round with In Bloom. Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays in this beautifully designed book.
The RHS' Complete Gardener's Manual will help you choose plants that will thrive in your space, design a border for year-round colour, grasp different pruning techniques, discover how to protect your veg patch from pests, and make the best compost.
Do you want to attract more bees, birds, frogs and hedgehogs into your garden? In Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything, Kate Bradbury teams up with the Wildlife Trusts and the RHS to help you discover how you can make your garden, balcony, doorstep or patio a haven for garden wildlife. You'll find handy charts, practical projects and fact files.
Houseplant and wellbeing gardening book
My House Plant Changed My Life: Green wellbeing for the great indoors
Gardener and TV presenter David Domoney is a firm believer that indoor plants can make 'a practical and emotional contribution to our wellbeing'. In this book, David explains the hard science behind the positive effect of the humble houseplant on wellness, and provides expert tips on how to keep your plants thriving, plus shares his top 50 life-enhancing houseplants.
Garden design book
RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design: Planning, Building and Planting Your Perfect Outdoor Space
If you're looking for new garden ideas, the RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design will guide you from planning to planting, such as choosing the correct materials for your structures and assessing your drainage, to laying patios, making ponds, and planting perennials.
Eco gardening book
How to Create an Eco Garden: The practical guide to sustainable and greener gardening
This planet-friendly book is filled with ideas for creating your own eco garden on any scale, from a small courtyard to a large garden or allotment. Discover organic techniques that improve biodiversity, learn the value of using recycled and reclaimed materials for landscaping, and take on simple projects such as making a pond and a wildlife hotel.
Drawing on expert advice from the RHS, this best-selling reference book – organised by colour, size, and type, rather than as an A-Z directory – will help you select the right varieties for your outdoor space.
Vegetable gardening book
Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest
Joyce and Ben Russell have devised 30 kitchen garden projects, devised to either extend the season, protect crops from pests or improve yields. These projects transform your vegetable plot into somewhere more productive, more attractive and more secure.
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Freshly Cut Flowers Care
Freshly cut flowers can indeed brighten up any room and provide a sweet-smelling natural aroma. Proper care is essential to ensure that they last longer and maintain their beauty. According to Chris Bonnett, founder of Gardening Express, the way we cut the stems, the type of vase we choose, and the temperature of the room all make a huge difference to the longevity of cut flowers. Here are the key concepts related to caring for freshly cut flowers:
1. Cutting the Stems Properly
- One of the biggest mistakes people make is not cutting the stems properly. It's important to cut the stem at a 45-degree angle using a sharp knife or secateurs, both when initially putting the flowers in the vase and each time the water is replaced [[1]].
2. Choosing the Right Vase
- The right vase can determine how long your flowers stay fresh. Heavier flower arrangements should be kept in a short vase with short stems, while lighter selections can be placed in a taller vase [[1]].
3. Using Flower Food
- Most cut flowers come with a packet of flower food, which should be added to the water. If flowers don't come with flower food, a homemade solution of lemon juice, sugar, and bleach can be used to slow down bacteria growth and keep the flowers fresh [[1]].
4. Keeping Flowers Away from Heat
- Cut flowers thrive in a cooler environment, so it's important to avoid placing them in warm and humid areas of the home [[1]].
5. Changing the Water
- Changing the water every other day is important to prevent bacteria growth and keep the flowers fresh [[1]].
6. Cleaning the Vase
- It's essential to clean the vase thoroughly with warm soapy water each time the water is changed to ensure the longevity of the flowers [[1]].
7. Removing Foliage Below Water Level
- Removing any foliage on the stems below water level is important to keep the water in the vase clean and prevent it from causing the foliage to rot, which can harm the flowers [[1]].
These concepts, when followed, can help individuals enjoy their cut flowers for a longer period and enhance the beauty of their living spaces.
Gardening Books
The article also mentions a variety of gardening books that cover different aspects of gardening, plant care, and well-being. Some of the highlighted books include:
- Gardener’s World: How I Garden: Easy ideas & inspiration for making beautiful gardens anywhere
- The Plant Rescuer: The book your houseplants want you to read
- Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul: How to Nurture Your Well-Being with Nature
- The Modern Gardener: A practical guide to gardening creatively, productively and sustainably
- The National Trust GROW: Fill your world with plants (National Trust)
- The Green Gardening Handbook: Grow, Eat and Enjoy
- Modern Container Gardening: How to Create a Stylish Small-Space Garden Anywhere
- National Trust School of Gardening: Practical Advice from the Experts
- Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month
- RHS The Little Book of Wild Gardening
- RHS Practical House Plant Book
- Small Garden Style: A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers
- Charles Dowding's No Dig Gardening: From Weeds to Vegetables Easily and Quickly: Course 1
- In Bloom: Growing, harvesting and arranging flowers all year round
- RHS Complete Gardener's Manual
- Wildlife Gardening: For Everyone and Everything
- My House Plant Changed My Life: Green wellbeing for the great indoors
- RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design: Planning, Building and Planting Your Perfect Outdoor Space
- How to Create an Eco Garden: The practical guide to sustainable and greener gardening
- RHS Encyclopedia Of Plants and Flowers
- Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest
These books cover a wide range of topics related to gardening, plant care, and well-being, providing valuable insights and practical guidance for gardening enthusiasts and individuals interested in enhancing their living spaces with plants and flowers.
