Florist's Guide to Prolonging Vase Life During Hotter Summer Months
Hot summer temperatures can accelerate flower wilting and bacterial growth, shortening vase life. This Ellermann Florist guide provides practical tips for florists and customers to keep cut flowers fresh longer during warm weather.
Selecting Flowers
Choose heat-tolerant varieties: Opt for flowers like zinnias, sunflowers, celosia, or tropical blooms (e.g., orchids, anthuriums) that withstand heat better than delicate varieties like peonies or tulips.
Inspect quality: Select flowers with firm petals, vibrant colors, and no signs of wilting or browning. Avoid blooms that feel warm to the touch, as they may already be stressed.
Source locally when possible: Locally grown flowers are often fresher and better adapted to regional heat, reducing transport stress.
Preparing Flowers
Cut stems properly: Use a sharp, clean knife or shears to cut stems at a 45-degree angle. This increases water uptake surface area. Avoid crushing stems, as it damages vascular tissue.
Remove lower foliage: Strip leaves below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth in the vase, which thrives in warm conditions.
Hydrate immediately: Place stems in lukewarm water (about 100°F/38°C) with floral preservative right after cutting. Warm water is absorbed faster than cold water in hot weather.
Vase and Water Care
Clean vases thoroughly: Wash vases with hot water and a mild bleach solution (1 tsp bleach per gallon of water) to kill bacteria. Rinse well to avoid chemical damage to flowers.
Use floral preservatives: Add commercial floral preservative to the water to provide nutrients and inhibit bacterial growth. Follow package instructions, typically 1 packet per quart of water.
Keep water cool: Use room-temperature or slightly cool water (70–80°F/21–27°C) for most flowers. Avoid ice-cold water, as it can shock sensitive blooms.
Change water frequently: In summer, change vase water every 1–2 days to prevent bacterial buildup, which accelerates in heat. Rinse stems and recut 1/4 inch each time to refresh water uptake.
Environmental Control
Avoid direct heat and sunlight: Place vases in cool, shaded areas away from windows, heaters, or appliances that emit heat. Ideal temperatures are 65–75°F (18–24°C).
Increase humidity: Mist flowers lightly with a spray bottle or place vases near a humidifier to combat dry summer air, which can dehydrate petals.
Use air conditioning: If possible, keep flowers in air-conditioned spaces to maintain cooler temperatures and slow metabolic processes.
Special Considerations for Summer
Refrigerate when possible: Store flowers in a refrigerator at 35–40°F (2–4°C) overnight or when not on display. Avoid storing near fruits, as ethylene gas from ripening fruit (e.g., apples, bananas) speeds up flower aging.
Monitor delicate blooms: Flowers like roses, lilies, or hydrangeas are prone to heat stress. Check them daily for wilting and remove any fading petals to maintain appearance.
Transport carefully: When delivering or transporting arrangements, use insulated coolers with ice packs to keep flowers cool. Avoid leaving flowers in hot cars.
Customer Tips
Educate customers: Provide a care card with each arrangement, advising them to keep flowers out of direct sun, change water daily, and recut stems every other day.
Offer portable solutions: Suggest portable floral preservatives or small cooling packs for customers buying flowers in hot weather.
Promote hardy options: Recommend heat-tolerant flowers or arrangements with greenery that lasts longer in summer conditions.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Wilting: If flowers wilt, recut stems under water to remove air bubbles and place in lukewarm water with preservative. Submerge drooping blooms like hydrangeas in cool water for 1–2 hours.
Cloudy water: Indicates bacterial growth. Change water immediately, clean the vase, and add fresh preservative.
Premature petal drop: Often caused by ethylene exposure or heat stress. Move flowers to a cooler location and remove nearby fruit.
By selecting heat-tolerant flowers, maintaining clean vases, controlling environmental factors, and educating customers, florists can significantly extend vase life during summer. Consistent care and attention to detail ensure vibrant, long-lasting arrangements even in the hottest months.
