Fresh flowers not only make the space more beautiful but also bring many spiritual values, especially during Tet. However, if you do not know how to take care of the flowers, they will quickly wither in just 1 or 2 days. So how to keep flowers fresh throughout the 9 days of Tet?
Great tips to keep flowers fresh for 9 days of Tet
Choose fresh flowers
When choosing flowers, you should choose flowers that still have stems and leaves. Real fresh flowers have leaves, flowers, branches… all very fresh. The flower stem must be green, hard and straight, the leaves of the flower must look sturdy, healthy, dark green, not wilted or yellow.
Choose flowers with bright colors, strong and sturdy petals. You can test by placing your palm lightly on the top of the flower to test the firmness of the flower. The petals of old flowers are softer than new flowers. Old flowers often have a green layer on the outside of the stem and leaves that is no longer shiny and not sturdy. With cold-stored flowers, they often wilt very quickly when exposed to sunlight.
In addition, you should carefully check the cut, if the old cut is dark, the flower has been cut for a long time, you should not choose. If you buy a whole flower, you need to remove the flowers that show signs of wilting from the flower to avoid affecting the remaining flowers.
Prepare the jar
You should wash the vase thoroughly before putting flowers in it or when changing the water, especially scrubbing the inside of the vase thoroughly to remove any slime or soap because chemicals can change the PH concentration in the water, causing the flowers to wilt quickly.
Prune properly
Before putting flowers in a vase, you should cut off all the wilted, crushed leaves and leaves submerged in water to avoid the leaves from decomposing, causing rot and making the flowers wither quickly. In addition, you need to put the flower stems in warm water and then use sharp scissors to cut, avoiding widening the cuts on the stems. Remember to cut diagonally to increase the contact area with water, the flowers will absorb more water and stay fresh longer.
Flower care
Change the water: Change the water for the flowers every morning, and in the evening, take them outside so that they can catch the pure dew drops and add vitality. Each time you change the water, cut the branches so that the flowers can absorb more water. If there are any wilted flowers in the vase, take them out immediately so as not to affect the other flowers.
Crush aspirin into water: This will increase the acid concentration in the water, thereby helping flowers stay fresh longer.
Put coins in the vase: Few people know that metal is a natural antibacterial substance, so it will help flowers not rot.
Add a few drops of mouthwash: This will kill bacteria, odors and plaque in the bottle.
Add white vinegar to the vase 1 minute before placing it in the vase: The vinegar will combine with the water to prevent rotting. From then on, the flowers will stay fresh until the third day.
Add sugar to the vase: According to Boldsky, sugar will promote photosynthesis, thereby helping flowers to wither slowly.
Vase temperature: Normally, bulbous flowers prefer cold water, while other flowers are suitable for temperatures from 37.8 to 43.3 degrees Celsius.
Keep flowers blooming as desired: If you want flowers to bloom quickly in time for Tet, you just need to soak them in warm water for a few minutes, the warm water will stimulate the flowers to bloom quickly. If the flowers are wilted, soak them in cold water for a few hours, the flowers will be fresh again.
Display flowers in appropriate places
You need to display the flowers in a cool but windproof place, away from fans so that the flowers do not wilt due to dehydration. In addition, you need to avoid places that are too hot such as televisions, refrigerators, other electrical appliances or direct sunlight so that the flowers do not wilt.
Do not place the vase near heat sources such as TV, refrigerator, stove or ripe fruit (because ethylene gas in ripe fruit will “ripen” the flowers).
Note: Care for each type of flower
Each type of flower has different water and nutrient needs. Understanding this will help you keep your flowers fresh longer:
Roses: Do not cut rose thorns because cutting thorns will affect the flowers, causing them to quickly deteriorate. Vitamin B1 is very effective in keeping rose petals from fading and preventing them from falling off.
Lilies: If you want lilies to stay fresh longer, you should cut the stem diagonally and put a little sugar in the vase.
Peach blossoms, wallflowers: You should heat the cut over a fire before placing it in a vase to retain the flower’s sap, helping the flowers last longer.
Chrysanthemums: Regularly change the water and cut off damaged stems. Adding a little nitrogen fertilizer or urea to the vase will help your chrysanthemums stay fresh longer.
Orchids: Cover with a damp cloth during the day to help keep flowers fresh longer.
Carnations: You should arrange flowers on the water surface, be careful not to let the flowers float on the water surface or sink in water because carnations are light.
Lilies: Before arranging, you should soak the entire lily branch in a large bucket of water for about 5 minutes, then arrange it. Note, remove the leaves at the base of the flower and arrange it in a lot of water to help the flower absorb water best.
Dendrobium Orchid: Because this type of orchid does not like humidity and prefers light, you should display the flower in a place with lots of light but avoid direct sunlight. Do not let the flower get too wet.
Phalaenopsis Orchids: Phalaenopsis orchids should be displayed in a shady place, away from direct sunlight. They should be displayed in a warm room temperature because Phalaenopsis is a type of flower that prefers shade and warmth.
