10 March 2024 , 05:00
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The key to long-lasting blooms may sound weird, but one expert swears by it.
With Mothering Sunday here, Brits across the nation will have made a trip to the supermarket to buy beautiful bouquets and floral displays - or nipping out for some last-minute blooms. In fact, it is predicted that around 23 million flowers are sold every year on the annual occasion.
But if you plan on treating your mum with a bunch of her favourite flowers, you may want to let her know how to keep them alive for as long as possible and ways to avoid the dreaded droop...
Regularly changing your vase's water, keeping the vase clean, feeding your flowers every few days and routinely getting rid of any dead stems are all good practices for keeping your bouquet looking fresh and dandy. But Card factory's flower gifting expert Amy Greenshields says none of these will slow down the ageing process.
"One easy way to do this is by keeping your flowers at a cool temperature," she said. "Cooler temperatures slow down the metabolic processes that contribute to the ageing of flowers, as well as reducing their rate of water loss - vital for keeping them looking fresher for longer."
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Therefore, the expert recommends keeping your flowers in the garage overnight, or if you have enough room - popping them in your fridge. "The cold temperatures will help your flowers to maintain their vibrant colours and structural integrity for a longer time," Greenshields added.
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It is also advised to keep your flowers away from direct sunlight or heat sources so they don't dehydrate, which can cause premature ageing. Some delicate blooms may even discolour if placed near radiators or in front of windows.
Greenshields also warns to never place your flowers near your fruit bowl. "This is a really common pitfall - but it's one that few people realise the potential damages of," she explained. This is because everyday fruits like bananas and apples produce a growth hormone called ethylene which can cause petals to drop off and flowers to droop.
How do you prevent your blooms from drooping? Let us know in the comments section below