Community Chat

[lulu2]

On 9/7/2014 sophiamarie said:

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

I make floral arrangements all of the time. I find a fresh cut on a slant allows maximum hydration. I purchase my flowers from a florist wholesaler so they are fresh. I bought one of their hydration accelerators but I don't think it works as well as a fresh cut/water change every few days.

Some flowers will last weeks. Mums (spider mums are my favorite) carnations, alstromeria, tulips, freesia and dendro's.

I think that's the trick. My husband cuts them on the slant under the running water and immediately puts them in the vase which already has water in it. I'm going to try getting mums next time..... The one thing I don't do - is change the water very often. Thanks for the tip.....

I try to change the water every other day. If I do not, even with bleach in the water, I gag when I pour it out. If I miss leaves below the water line, they turn to slime and give off the worst odor.

[Luv2Decorate]

On 9/7/2014 sophiamarie said:

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

I make floral arrangements all of the time. I find a fresh cut on a slant allows maximum hydration. I purchase my flowers from a florist wholesaler so they are fresh. I bought one of their hydration accelerators but I don't think it works as well as a fresh cut/water change every few days.

Some flowers will last weeks. Mums (spider mums are my favorite) carnations, alstromeria, tulips, freesia and dendro's.

I think that's the trick. My husband cuts them on the slant under the running water and immediately puts them in the vase which already has water in it. I'm going to try getting mums next time..... The one thing I don't do - is change the water very often. Thanks for the tip.....

You are welcome!

Flowers can be so fickle. I arrange flowers for wedding receptions, a country club, church, grad parties, fundraisers, etc.. Sometimes they last for a long time, other times just a week. I buy them all from the same place and even place special orders so I know when they arrive at the wholesaler. I always have fresh flowers at home, usually 3 arrangements. It's my favorite hobby!!

[Irshgrl31201]

I use bleach also and I cut on a slant as well. I do use 7 up or vodka too and a couple of drops of bleach to keep the bacteria away.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-vodka-citrus-sodas-keep-flowers-fresh/

[Luv2Decorate]

On 9/7/2014 lulu2 said:

On 9/7/2014 sophiamarie said:

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

I make floral arrangements all of the time. I find a fresh cut on a slant allows maximum hydration. I purchase my flowers from a florist wholesaler so they are fresh. I bought one of their hydration accelerators but I don't think it works as well as a fresh cut/water change every few days.

Some flowers will last weeks. Mums (spider mums are my favorite) carnations, alstromeria, tulips, freesia and dendro's.

I think that's the trick. My husband cuts them on the slant under the running water and immediately puts them in the vase which already has water in it. I'm going to try getting mums next time..... The one thing I don't do - is change the water very often. Thanks for the tip.....

I try to change the water every other day. If I do not, even with bleach in the water, I gag when I pour it out. If I miss leaves below the water line, they turn to slime and give off the worst odor.

That is right!!! No leaves below the water line. They go bad fast. You can put bear or lily grass in the water and it holds up fine.

[lulu2]

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

You are welcome!

Flowers can be so fickle. I arrange flowers for wedding receptions, a country club, church, grad parties, fundraisers, etc.. Sometimes they last for a long time, other times just a week. I buy them all from the same place and even place special orders so I know when they arrive at the wholesaler. I always have fresh flowers at home, usually 3 arrangements. It's my favorite hobby!!

I am so jealous. I try my best at arranging flowers, have numerous gadgets to help, but my successes are few in number.

Anyone remember that arranging piece (Q sold) that had a bunch of tiny little vases? You put a single flower or small bunch in each vase then sort of stacked them for a professional (not in my case) look.

[Vamp]

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

I make floral arrangements all of the time. I find a fresh cut on a slant allows maximum hydration. I purchase my flowers from a florist wholesaler so they are fresh. I bought one of their hydration accelerators but I don't think it works as well as a fresh cut/water change every few days.

Some flowers will last weeks. Mums (spider mums are my favorite) carnations, alstromeria, tulips, freesia and dendro's.

(If I am interpreting this correctly) How do you get tulips to last for weeks? Once they open up, I find that the petals fall off after a few days.

I also change the water every couple of days and recut the stems. I just figure flowers aren't meant to last forever, so when they are spent, I buy or cut (from the garden) new ones. Make sure you bring in flowers that are still buds or just opening, and they will last longer than ones that have already fully opened.

[Luv2Decorate]

On 9/8/2014 Vamp said:

On 9/7/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

I make floral arrangements all of the time. I find a fresh cut on a slant allows maximum hydration. I purchase my flowers from a florist wholesaler so they are fresh. I bought one of their hydration accelerators but I don't think it works as well as a fresh cut/water change every few days.

Some flowers will last weeks. Mums (spider mums are my favorite) carnations, alstromeria, tulips, freesia and dendro's.

(If I am interpreting this correctly) How do you get tulips to last for weeks? Once they open up, I find that the petals fall off after a few days.

I also change the water every couple of days and recut the stems. I just figure flowers aren't meant to last forever, so when they are spent, I buy or cut (from the garden) new ones. Make sure you bring in flowers that are still buds or just opening, and they will last longer than ones that have already fully opened.

Yes, the tulips I buy will last 2 weeks. I buy them from the wholesaler and they are shipped dry in a box, not in water. They fly them in from the Netherlands. It's crazy. All of the green are shipped in boxes too. They are stored in a huge cooler room.

Walking into the cooler and smelling all of the fresh flowers is a wonderful thing. There are flower varieties that I've never seen before let along pronounce.

[Qwackertoo]

On 9/8/2014 Luv2Decorate said:

Yes, the tulips I buy will last 2 weeks. I buy them from the wholesaler and they are shipped dry in a box, not in water. They fly them in from the Netherlands. It's crazy. All of the green are shipped in boxes too. They are stored in a huge cooler room.

Walking into the cooler and smelling all of the fresh flowers is a wonderful thing. There are flower varieties that I've never seen before let along pronounce.

My in-laws went on a 60 day trip to Europe for their 50th anniversary a couple of years ago and part of the trip was to and during the "Flower Festival" or whatever it is called. She LOVED it. I think he even enjoyed it a bit. My MIL's name is Violet and she LOVES flowers and birds. A visit to a botanical garden with her . . . she pretty much knows the names of all the flowers & trees she encounters or on a nature hike as well.

[misspammie]

lulu2, I have that 'thing' from the Q with all the bud vases. Just used it the other week with the pineapple center, parsley and pineapple. It always looks so 'ta do'!! love that thing.

[ive been framed]

Not Christmas lights.