THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and more.
A QUARTERLY COLLECTIBLE | Heart & Home Inspiration
THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
0

Caring for Cut Flowers: 10 Tips from an Expert Florist

  • Philippa Kefali
  • April 29, 2022
Caring for cut flowers
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Caring for cut flowers

The beauty of flowers can brighten your home at any time of the year—especially during spring, when flowers are in abundance. Here, experienced florist Philippa Kefali shares 10 tips for caring for cut flowers and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation in the process. 

AMAZON AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLAIMER | The Joyful Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Every purchase you make through our Amazon affiliate links supports our ministry at no additional cost to you.

As a child, Saturdays were for cleaning your room. Sheets were changed, the room vacuumed, dusted, and tidied, and finally, a little bunch of flowers was placed on the dressing table. The process just didn’t feel finished if the bright pink hibiscus or jasmine climbing the outside of our chimney didn’t offer up its charm to the end result.

Now, I am very much grown up and, still, my little house does not feel complete without at least one bloom or leaf from the Creator’s bounty adorning it somewhere. I have come to realize that the presence of our amazingly creative God comes into my home with that one bloom. It reminds me that I am never alone and the beauty in my life is a gift from above. That single bloom carries my Heavenly Father’s fingerprint.

Anyone Can Care for Flowers

I had the joy of running my own florist business for a decade. Perhaps you don’t feel quite that adept or creative when working with cut flowers—but anyone of any age can bring the wonder and magic of flowers into their home. Consider the beautiful simplicity of a bouquet from a child. I will never forget the sheer joy on my grandson’s face when he bounced down our stairs with three little flowers he had picked for me. Those flowers worked their magic!

The beauty of flowers can brighten your home at any time of the year—especially during spring, when flowers are in abundance. Below are 10 simple tips for caring for cut flowers. Use them to build your confidence. Then spread God’s beauty throughout your home.

10 TIPS FOR CARING FOR CUT FLOWERS

1. Always Recut the Stems 

First, always cut your flowers. Within 29 seconds of being cut, the cells start sealing over. Your flowers will always last longer with freshly cut stems. If you are able to cut them on a slight diagonal, you will allow more surface area to draw up the water.

2. Remove All Leaves in the Water

If stems below the water are clean, the water won’t get stinky as fast and flowers will last longer.

3. Refresh the Water Every 2-3 Days

Recut the stems with each change of water.

4. Add Bleach

If the vase is clear glass, you may want to add a tablespoon of bleach to the water so it remains clear. If you have flowers like stock or kale, bleach will prevent them from smelling.

5. Find the Perfect Spot

Don’t put your flowers in a draft, near a fruit bowl, or in the hot sunshine if you want them to last—cool, sheltered spots are best.

6. Consider the Vase Size

A vase should be approximately one-third the size of the total arrangement. Too small or too large and it will look out of proportion. The smaller the mouth of your vase, the easier it is for flowers to stand up straight. If it’s too wide, the flowers will fall over.

7. Get Creative About Presentation 

Pricey vases aren’t necessary. Always keep a lookout for bottles, small to large, that could hold 1-3 blooms or a large leaf. These will transform your home. A cluster of three different sized bottles with flowers adorning looks interesting and beautiful in any space.

8. Positioning the Stems

If you are using two stems in your vase/bottle, place one high and the other low to best balance the flowers.

9. Use What’s Freely Available 

If finances are an issue, then collect wild grasses and flowers that are available to us all. Beauty is everywhere. 

10. Enjoy God’s Creation 

Most of all, open your eyes to the sheer wonder of the creation you are bringing into your home. Flowers and leaves are so varied and diverse, and each carries with them the beauty of our Heavenly Father into your space. Enjoy that space and His presence as you care for your flowers.

Perhaps you don’t feel all that adept or creative when working with cut flowers—but anyone of any age can bring the wonder and magic of flowers into their home.

Philippa Kefali Tweet

This article originally appeared in

THE AWAKEN ISSUE

of The Joyful Life Magazine

AWAKEN | The Joyful Life Magazine | Spring 2020 | Issue 06
ORDER THE AWAKEN ISSUE

Share This Post

19
0
5
0
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Philippa Kefali

2 comments
  1. Ashley Fields says:
    April 29, 2022 at 7:24 am

    I love this! Thank you for sharing. I work with silk flowers as a hobby/creative pursuit mainly just for my own enjoyment so when we have real flowers, I’m never quite sure how to keep up with them. I will definitely be bookmarking this post! Also, I love the soft color combination of the flowers in the picture. Peach and white or cream together is such a beautiful combination.

    Reply
  2. Sue Donaldson says:
    April 29, 2022 at 7:48 am

    Flowers to build my confidence. I love it! I will follow these tips and although I don’t grow flowers very well as an accidental gardener—it’s an accident if it grows— Trader Joe’s is across the street so that’s a boon. Thanks so much.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRENDING POSTS
  • Good manners 1
    We Don’t Talk That Way in Our House: Teaching Kids Good Manners
  • How do i forgive myself 2
    How Do I Forgive Myself for My Mistakes in Parenting in Light of Grace?
  • Personal bible study 3
    How to Transform Your Personal Bible Study Time With An Easy Perspective Shift
  • Valentine’s day with kids 4
    6 Unique Ideas for Celebrating Valentine’s Day With Kids
  • Prayers for a broken marriage 5
    5 Prayers for a Broken Marriage: Praying Scripture For a Hurting Heart
RSS Daily Devotions
  • Rough Draft to Masterpiece March 24, 2023
  • Find Your Way Free March 23, 2023
  • Seeing Your Samaria March 22, 2023
  • One Day, It Will Be March 21, 2023
  • Called Beyond My Ability March 20, 2023
VISIT OUR SHOP
  • Issue 07 | DELIGHT | Summer 2020 $28.00
  • Issue 17 | REJOICE — Digital Version $14.00
  • Issue 01 | ABIDE — Digital Version $14.00
The Secret Society of Salzburg Book Cover
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and exclusive offers for our subscribers.
Follow Us on Instagram

AMAZON AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLAIMER | The Joyful Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Every purchase you make through our Amazon affiliate links supports our ministry at no additional cost to you.

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • WRITE FOR US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • ACCOUNT
  • Contact
© 2022 The Joyful Life Co., LLC

Input your search keywords and press Enter.