Flower seeds grow into beautiful cut flowers, but did you know you can also bring narcissus, tulips and dahlias indoors?
Of course you can enjoy them in the garden or in a pot, but how lovely is it to also have a fresh bunch of flowers in your home? We’ll give you some tips on how to do that and how to keep them looking beautiful for as long as possible.
What are cut flowers?
Cut flowers are flowers you grow in your garden and then cut to place in a vase indoors. They bring colour and cheer both to your outdoor space and your living room. In principle, you can cut any flower for a vase, but some flowers are better suited for it and last longer once picked.
How to place your flowers in a vase
Always start with a clean vase. You can add a small drop of bleach to prevent bacteria, although cut flower food is not strictly necessary. If you’ve just cut the stems from the garden, you don’t need to cut them again. But if the ends are a little dry, then it’s a good idea to recut them at an angle to help them absorb water better.
Tips for a longer vase life
The location of your bouquet matters. Keep tulips, narcissus and dahlias away from ripening fruit, which releases ethylene gas that causes flowers to bloom and wilt more quickly. Also avoid drafty spots, direct sunlight and areas that are too warm, such as near a heater. If you want to give your flowers the best care, change the water regularly and keep the vase clean.
Handy overview: the do’s and don’ts for enjoying cut flowers as long as possible!
Do's | Don'ts |
If your flowers have been left without water for too long, recut the stems, wrap the bouquet in newspaper, and let them recover overnight in a full vase of water | Don’t use a dull or dirty knife or scissors that could crush the stems |
| Cut the stems at an angle using a sharp knife to allow better water uptake | Don’t place flowers near ripening fruit |
| Refresh the water every three days and recut the stems | Don’t put the vase in direct sunlight or in a drafty spot |
| Remove any leaves that would sit below the water line to prevent rotting | Don’t use boiling or icy water |
| Use a clean vase and optionally add some flower food | If you are cutting flowers from your own garden, do this in the early morning or evening rather than in the middle of the day. That way, the flowers will be full of moisture and the stems will be strong. |
| Bring a bucket of water to the garden and place the stems in it right away so they don’t dry out |
and then Add to Home Screen.
