Avoid the wilt this Valentines Day with these top tips
Bunches of cut flowers will always have a limited life. In order to satisfy the surge in demand when Valentine’s Day comes around, bunches of flowers are often placed in cold storage for a few days (or more). This means that unlike Mr Christian Grey’s attire, they may not always be at their freshest. As the final instalment of the 50 Shades franchise hits cinemas this month, Gareth Cowmeadow, Scenting Specialist at Ambius, advises the lucky recipients of Valentines Day roses to take a leaf out of Mr. Grey’s book by taking control, and caring for their blooms.
Take off their shoes –
During the time since the stems were cut, they may have formed a callous over the cut end, which might slow down water uptake. Use secateurs or a sharp knife to cut a centimetre or so from the stem’s bottom to expose some fresher tissue.
Strip from the waist down –
If you are going to put your roses in a vase, the lower leaves will get wet and look unsightly. It’s best to remove them, but make sure you leave a few near the top to help show off the attractive blooms.
Ply them with fertile food –
Bouquets of flowers usually come with a little sachet of fertilizer. This contains a source of energy – sucrose – to ensure longevity of the flowers, and acidifiers to stabilise the pigment and colour of your roses. These sachets will help, so don’t throw them away. Add the contents to the water, as it will add a few extra days of life to your flowers.
Give them a sensual warm bath –
Try not to chill your flowers by putting them in icy water. Make sure you place your roses in water that is warm, or room temperature. If the water out of your tap is very cold, fill the vase and let it warm up a little before putting your flowers in for the perfect Valentines Day!
