The “Did You Know?” Series: Did You Know How Important It Is to Start With a Clean, Freshly Washed Vase?

It may sound obvious, but it's one of the most important steps in cut flower care.

That beautiful vase sitting in your cabinet may look perfectly clean, but if it hasn't been thoroughly washed since the last time you used it, it could contain bacteria and residue that can shorten the vase life of your flowers.

Fresh flowers need water to survive. Once flowers are cut, their stems become the pathway through which they absorb that water.

Unfortunately, bacteria love water too.

Bacteria can multiply in vase water and around the cut ends of flower stems. As bacterial populations increase, they can interfere with the flower's ability to take up water through its stems. This can lead to wilting and a shorter vase life.

That's why professional florists pay so much attention to sanitation.

At Petal Perfection Flower Company, clean containers, clean water and proper flower preparation are all part of providing quality floral designs.

If you're reusing a vase, don't simply dump out the old water and refill it.

Give the vase a good washing with hot, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly before adding fresh water and your flowers.

Pay particular attention to the bottom and inside walls of the vase. That's where residue and microorganisms can remain after the previous arrangement is removed.

A clean vase gives your flowers a much better starting point.

Clean water is just as important as a clean vase.

If your vase water becomes cloudy, that's a warning sign that microbial growth may be occurring. When that happens, remove the flowers, clean the container and replace the water with a fresh solution.

For many fresh-cut flowers, changing the water every couple of days is a good practice.

And don't forget to remove leaves that would sit below the water line. Submerged foliage can break down and contribute to bacterial growth.

A Simple Flower Care Routine

Want to help your flowers last longer?

1. Wash the vase.

Start with a clean container.

2. Add fresh water.

Don't reuse old, cloudy vase water.

3. Use flower food.

Follow the instructions on the packet rather than guessing at the concentration.

4. Remove leaves below the water line.

Leaves sitting in water can contribute to bacterial problems.

5. Keep an eye on the water.

Top it off when necessary and replace it when it becomes cloudy or dirty.

6. Recut the stems when appropriate.

A fresh cut can help improve water uptake.

These simple steps can make a noticeable difference in how to make cut flowers last longer.

A beautiful arrangement deserves a clean beginning.

The next time you bring home fresh flowers, don't underestimate that vase sitting in your cupboard. A few minutes of cleaning could help create a healthier environment for your flowers and help extend their vase life.

At Petal Perfection Flower Company, we're proud to create fresh floral arrangements for customers throughout Sun City Center and the Tampa Bay Area, including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Wimauma, Parrish, Bradenton, St. Petersburg and surrounding communities.

And remember our first flower-care rule:

Clean vase. Clean water. Happier flowers.

Did you know? Sometimes the best flower-care secret is simply starting clean!