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.
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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.
This article originally appeared in
THE AWAKEN ISSUE
of The Joyful Life Magazine
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2 comments
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.
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.