Stop your flowers dying in days and smelling foul with 4 steps

Fresh flowers are meant to brighten your home with colour and a natural scent, but they can quickly start to rot and smell unpleasant if they’re not cared for properly. One florist has warned that many people unknowingly shorten the life of their bouquets within days. The good news is that keeping flowers fresh isn’t complicated; it just comes down to following a few key habits.

The expert at If The Florist shared: “You expected a delightful fragrance to fill the room, but instead, you’re greeted with a stench that could clear the house. Don’t worry—you’re not alone in this floral horror story.” Here’s how to keep them fresh with four simple steps.

1.  Stems

The florist states that in order to keep flowers fresh, you should cut about an inch off the bottom of the stems every couple of days, as this helps them absorb more water and last for longer. According to experts at Chrysl, despite flowers being cut from their mother plant or the roots, the stem begins to heal itself, which blocks water absorption, so it is important to trim the stems. 

They explained: “The cut-off flower stem protects itself against infections and drying out through the cutting wound by sealing it. This means that when cut flowers are put into a container or vase solution, the water absorption is greatly decreased or even completely stopped, resulting in a premature demise of the entire flower.”

2. Food

If your bouquet came with a packet of flower food, it’s important to use it. These packets contain a balanced mix of nutrients and antibacterial agents designed to prolong the life of your flowers and help prevent unpleasant odours developing in the water.

The florist added: “No flower food? A teaspoon of sugar or a few drops of bleach can help too (just don’t mix them unless you want a chemistry lesson).”

3. Daily changing

The florist advised: “Think of it like giving your flowers a clean bed to sleep in each night. Fresh water = fresh flowers.”

When the same water remains in the vase for extended periods, bacterial growth can occur, which can cause an odour. However, if your flowers have developed such a strong, unpleasant smell that it’s hard to ignore, it may be time to let them go.

4. Petals

The florist shared: “Those droopy petals at the bottom? Yeah, they’re contributing to the smell. Pluck them off before they turn your lovely arrangement into an unintentional air freshener.”

Removing the dead petals will also allow the flower to give more energy to the petals that need it. Taking off the decayed petals can stop it from spreading quickly to the rest of the flower, reported Love and Blooms.