Conditioning

Conditioning

Conditioning flowers is picking, preparing, storing and looking after them to ensure they last as long as possible.

Key Question

Q: Do you wash the stems of your cut flowers as you change the water?

A: It isn't necessary to wash the stems as you change the water. However, when you change the water every other day, give your stems another trim of about an inch. Cutting at an angle creates a straw effect, making it easier for the flower to drink. Make sure that any leaves below the waterline are also removed.

Don't throw away your cuttings, they're often useful/pretty to put in small bud vases and add to your arrangement. If you're picking flowers, do so last thing in the day or first thing in the morning, to try to avoid the heat of the day. The warmer and sunnier your home is, the more water your flowers will need.

Use a bucket to give the flowers a long drink once they're picked, preferably overnight with the water up to the necks of the flower but not touching any of the petals. Tap water is perfectly fine for watering your plants. The fresher the water the longer the flowers will last so try and change the water as often as possible. Remember to cut on a diagonal, as this will help the flowers to drink more effectively. I recommend removing leaves as this will help your flowers last a little longer.

I don't bash the stems of plants that are woody as this increased surface area will bread bacteria. When buying seasonal the flowers will last longer as they are in their prime and will require less conditioning.

Flower food is like drinking a can of coke for a flower, in that it perks them up quickly and temporarily but isn't the best thing for the long-term. Searing is another brilliant trick to help flowers last longer. Plunge about 10% of the stem into boiling water (for about 10 seconds for delicate flowers, up to 25 seconds for more woody-stemmed flowers). Lilac, roses, cow parsley and hellebores react very well to this treatment.

Conditioning Steps

1. Leaves should be completely stripped from both the bottom half and two-thirds of each stem.

1. Using a sharp knife or secateurs, cut the stems to length in an angled fashion without leaving any marks on the stems.

1. Once cut, put stems in a bucket of clean water and give them a drink overnight.