How to Keep Your Fresh Flowers Lasting Longer: Home Hacks vs. Professional Advice

SUMMARY:

DOs for Extending Vase Life:

• Clean Water & Flower Food: Use clean water with the correct amount of professional flower food (e.g., Koch & Co®).
• Clean Vase: Thoroughly wash the vase to prevent bacteria that could shorten flower life.
• Trim Stems at an Angle: Cut stems at a 45-degree angle (about 3 cm) to maximize water absorption.
• Replenish Water Regularly: Change water and add new flower food every few days.

Home Hacks to Avoid:

• Chlorine/Bleach: Harms flowers and loses effectiveness quickly.
• Copper Coins: Ineffective as modern coins contain little copper.
• Soft Drinks: Promote bacterial growth due to sugar content.
• Sugar: Feeds bacteria, leading to water contamination.
• Vodka/Gin: Alcohol kills bacteria but can harm flowers and is impractical.

When it comes to extending the vase life of your fresh flowers, the advice out there can be overwhelming. Some methods are backed by science, while others are home remedies that sound clever but often prove to be less effective than professional flower food. Here’s a clear breakdown of what works and what doesn’t to keep your fresh blooms vibrant and long-lasting.

4 easy steps to ensure longer-lasting fresh flowers:

1. Use Clean Water and Proper Flower Food

Start with clean water and the correct dose of professional flower food, like Koch & Co® flower food. Follow the sachet instructions—typically 1 small sachet per half-litre of water or a larger sachet per litre. 

2. Start with a Clean Vase

Thoroughly wash your vase before use. Clean vases reduce the risk of bacteria and cross-contamination, which can shorten the lifespan of fresh flowers. 

3. Trim Stems at an Angle

Cut about 3 cm off the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle using sharp scissors or a knife. This angled cut maximizes water absorption by preventing the stem from sitting flat on the vase bottom. Avoid using blunt tools, which can crush the stem and inhibit hydration. 

4. Replenish Treated Water Regularly

After a few days, refresh the water in the vase and add a new dose of flower food. This maintains optimal hydration and nutrients for your flowers.

Home Hacks to Avoid for Fresh Flowers:

1. Chlorine/Bleach

While bleach does kill bacteria, it’s highly aggressive on plant tissues and requires precise dosing to avoid harming flowers. Even with the right dose, bleach loses effectiveness within half a day, leaving your fresh flowers without long-term support unless you re-dose regularly.

2. Copper Coins

This old myth claims copper coins can improve water quality. However, the release of copper ions is too slow to be effective, and modern coins are mostly made from copper-coloured steel alloys that contain little to no actual copper.

3. Soft Drinks

While soft drinks contain sugar and citric acid, which may initially seem helpful, they encourage bacterial growth. The sugar feeds microbes, quickly contaminating the water and harming your flowers.

4. Sugar

Sugar is a feast for bacteria and promotes rapid contamination of the vase water. This approach is too imbalanced to provide the necessary nutrients for fresh flowers.

5. Vodka/Gin

Alcohol can kill bacteria, but the solution must be diluted to less than 8% to avoid harming the flowers. This makes it an expensive and impractical choice compared to professional flower food. Save the vodka for yourself instead!

The Verdict: Science Over Myths

Stick with professional flower food such as Floralife® Flower Food Sachets, clean vases, and proper maintenance to enjoy your fresh flowers for as long as possible. Home remedies might sound appealing, but they’re often ineffective—or worse, harmful. When it comes to fresh blooms, trust in the tried-and-true methods for lasting beauty. For more information about Flower Food, see our blogs Guide to Flower Food and Why Should You Consider Professionally-Made Flower Food over Homemade Flower Food?