To keep cut flowers fresh longer, use a clean vase, trim the stems at an angle, remove any leaves below the water line, change the water regularly, and keep the arrangement out of direct sun and heat. These steps slow bacterial growth and help the flowers take up water.
Start with a clean vase and fresh water, cut an inch or so off each stem at an angle so it can draw water, and strip off leaves that would sit below the water line. Change the water every couple of days, re-trim the stems, and keep the vase somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
Flowers wilt largely because bacteria clog the stems and foul the water, blocking water uptake. Clean water, submerged leaves removed, and a fresh angled cut keep the stems open and the water clean, so the flowers stay hydrated longer.
Dirty water, leaves rotting below the water line, direct sun, heat, and nearby ripening fruit all shorten vase life. Fruit gives off ethylene gas, which ages flowers, so keep arrangements away from the fruit bowl.
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