Keeping Spring Flowers Fresh

Hey there flower friends!

Whether you’re picking up fresh flowers from a farmer’s market or even the grocery store (or have a flower delivery set to arrive at your doorstep) our founder and CEO, Christina Stembel, shared some of her favorite pro tips with TODAY Show viewers (and now you!) to keep them fresh as long as florally possible.

Read below for the most commonly asked questions about flower care - and our answers!

Q: How do I take care of my flowers once they deliver?
A: This is one of the most common questions our support team here at Farmgirl receives on a daily basis. Cardinal rule #1? Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Making sure your bouquet gets a fresh drink of water is the single most important thing you can do to extend the longevity of your spring flowers, Mother's Day flowers, or other fresh flower bouquets. 

This doesn’t mean filling the vase once and then setting and forgetting it. Good hydration means changing that vase water out daily - or as often you can remember! Bacteria build up is a natural part of your stems aging, so flushing that out and replacing with fresh water will make sure your flowers are getting a fresh drink as often as possible. 

To flower food or not to flower food? That's the question. 

YES, we're big fans of flower food... with proper use! We hear from our flower recipients all the time asking what to do with that little packet of flower food that comes in the box.

Using these pre-portioned sachets that arrive with your flower delivery properly (and properly is key!) can go a long way to maintain and even extend the health and life of your fresh flowers. Flower food helps to (1) provide a source of food for your flowers now that they’re no longer photosynthesizing and (2) help reduce bacteria build up in the vase so your stems can get a fresher drink of water. 

How to use your flower food (the right way!)
Portion control! Most standard packets are designed for two cups of filtered water. That might not sound like a lot of water, but it’s much more than most smaller vessels hold. You’ll likely use less than ½ of the packet for your bud or smaller vases and, trust us, that's plenty!

Stir, stir, stir! The most common mistake we see with flower food is not letting the mixture (especially the powdered mixtures) dissolve and fully mix into the H2O. After all, you wouldn’t drink an alka-seltzer that wasn’t fully dissolved, right?... right?? Not letting the mixture fully dissolve in water can clog flower stems and prevent your blooms from getting the hydration they need.

Chop & drop! Before you put your flower arrangement in its vase, give the stems a quick trim (pro tip! chop at a 45° angle to maximize the hydration area), especially for flowers or bouquets that were shipped and delivered to you or your recipient. A good chop allows water, and all that food, to enter the stem a little easier!
 

Make your own flower food three ways!

If you’ve ever received flowers without the food packet, Christina shares her recipes to make your own. You can make flower food two ways with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen right now. 

For every two cups of water: 

• Option 1: 1 TSP Apple Cider Vinegar + 1 TSP of sugar
• Option 2: 1 TSP Lemon juice + 1 TSP of sugar + 3 drops of bleach (yes, bleach!)
   

More is More

Pennies in the water to keep your tulips looking tip top? We’ve heard that - and more - before! If you're looking to send a stunning flower bouquet, vase arrangement, or other flower arrangment to someone you love (which totally includes Y O U!), you can shop our favorite online flower delivery options here.

xx,

Team Farmgirl