How to Keep Your Flowers Looking Fresh

summer flower bouquet locally grown near bay city

Before becoming a flower farmer, I honestly didn’t know much about caring for those beautiful bouquets I’d receive or treat myself to. I’d just dump the little flower food packet into a vase full of water, plop in the flowers, and call it good!

Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re curious about how to get the most life out of your bouquet—keep reading.

So, you just picked up your bouquet from our flower stand… now what?

Get those blooms home and into water as soon as you can! And whatever you do, don’t leave your flowers sitting in a hot car—heat and no hydration is a fast track to wilt city. (Honestly, I’d wilt too if you left me in a hot car without water!)

Start with a Clean Vase

Choose any vase you love—but make sure it’s squeaky clean! I use mine often (because yes, I’m constantly filling my home with flowers), and the bottoms can get a little scummy over time. Wash with hot, soapy water and rinse well to get rid of any lingering bacteria.

Trim the Stems

Once you’ve unwrapped your bouquet, trim the stems about an inch (or more if needed) at a 45-degree angle using clean, sharp scissors or shears. Even though our flowers are freshly cut, trimming helps them absorb water more efficiently.

Add Flower Food

Every bouquet from us includes a packet of flower food—and yes, it really does help! Flower food contains:

Sugar (to nourish the blooms)
An acidifier (to lower water pH for better absorption)
A biocide (to keep bacteria at bay)

Just pour it into the clean vase water before adding your flowers.

Check the Water Line

We always strip any leaves that would sit below the water line before sending you your bouquet. But after trimming the stems, double-check that no leaves are submerged. Leaves in the water = bacteria growth = shorter vase life.

Keep Them Out of Direct Sunlight

Flowers like it cool and comfortable. Try to avoid placing your vase in direct sunlight. That said, I always have a vase on my kitchen table, and it gets a bit of evening sun—it’s never been a problem. Just be mindful of hot, sunny windows for extended periods.

Stay Away from Ripening Fruit

This one surprises a lot of people! Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas, which speeds up the aging process of flowers. Keep your blooms at a healthy distance from your fruit bowl.

Remove Spent Blooms

Different flowers have different vase lives. Some, like cosmos, may only last 3–5 days, while others can go strong for over a week. I always pluck out the spent blooms as they fade. It keeps the bouquet looking fresh and the water cleaner for longer.

Keep the Water Clean

Change your vase water every 3–5 days—or sooner if it’s looking cloudy. My golden rule: if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t let your flowers sit in it.

A Final Note

These tips can help extend the vase life of your flowers, but remember: they’re a living, perishable gift from nature. They’re not meant to last forever. There’s something magical about watching them complete their life cycle right in your home.

Each bloom represents the beauty of the present moment—and when you buy locally grown flowers, you’re bringing a piece of your community into your space. Enjoy them fully, as they are, while they’re here.

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Keep Them Blooming