You need to first understand what happens to a flower when it’s harvested. The flower’s stem is best described as a straw similar to what you would use to drink your favorite beverage. The flower draws nutrients and water from the roots up through the stem to hydrate and feed the bloom. The bloom will still use the stem to feed even after the root has been cut away.

This is important to know because this is the key to long lasting fresh cut flowers. As mentioned, the bloom is still drawing water up from the stem after it’s been severed from the root. Since there is no water coming up from the root, the stem will start to draw air. Once air is introduced into the stem, then no matter if you put the flower in a vase of water, for all practical purposes, the flower is done and in a couple of days you’ll end up tossing it out. 

So what can I do? The answer is quite simple, whether you are using fresh cut flowers directly from your garden or purchased them from a store or flower shop, you must re cut the stem immediately before putting them into a vase of water. Pretty simple but oh so important, especially with roses. When you re cut the stem, the flower basically takes a gasp wanting to draw up water. If you cut the stem about 2 inches from the end and then submerge the flowers in water, you have eliminated the air the flower sucked up earlier and now are replacing it with water in the vase which the bloom will draw upon to try to survive as long as possible. This can extend the life of the flower by a week or two opposed to lasting a few days if not re-cut.  Some florists insist on cutting all their flowers underwater to assure that the first gulp the flower takes is all liquid. I didn’t practice this technique in my flower shop but I do see merit in doing this.

There are a couple of other simple things to do that can help preserve your flowers, when you cut the stem cut it at a slight angle. This is to make sure that when you put the stem into a vase, the bottom of the vase doesn’t plug the stem thus shutting off the flow of water and nutrients.

The second thing and probably a little more important than the angle cut is to make sure you put nutrients in the water.  Most flower shops will send you home a little package of flower food with your cut flowers, but if you are taking them from the garden, just add a little of the same food you give growing plants. Add this food to the water in the vase of the cut flowers. Don’t over do it, just 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of liquid or powered plant food is enough. Some people will go as far as using distilled water in the vase but tap water here in Colorado seems to work just fine.