How Do I Extend The Vase Life of My Anemone & Ranunculus?
Good news!
Report cards are in and these blooms get an A+ for vase life. Combine that with the fact they’re dramatically drop-dead gorgeous and you see why florists and designers search high and low to source these for weddings and event work. They may look fragile and delicate, but this is one of those cases where you can’t judge a book by its cover.
That said, there are a few things I always try to do to extend the vase life of these guys.
And, before you ask, yes, these work across the board; they’re not just for anemone and ranunculus. I use these tricks for everything.
KEEP OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
Though most of our blooms want aaalllll the sunshine when they’re outside growing, once snipped and brought inside, the sunlight actually speeds up their bloom advancement. Which means sitting them in a spot where they'll get direct sunlight is a sure fire way to wilt them before their time.
KEEP THEM COOL
Closely related to tip number one. The warmer the spot, the faster they wilt. I’ve heard of people even putting their blooms in the fridge overnight. Though that’s mostly a good idea, sometimes the gasses… (is there a better word here? Cuz’ mentioning the word “gasses” on my blog was not actually a life goal.) Anywho, gasses(🙄) from some fruits and veggies can interact in a non-ideal way and make some flower wilt and/or discolor. And no one wants that. Kinda like no one wants the word “gasses” on their website. Ok, that jokes done.
CUT STEMS UNDERWATER 👈🏼 MY ALL TIME BESTEST TRICK
This is something my mom taught me when I was little. Thanks mom!
So what exactly do I mean by “cut your stems under water”?
I mean that after you're done arranging your blooms or when you come inside with a handful of flowers from the yard to stick in a jar, you turn on your kitchen faucet (you could also fill up a bowl of water…but who wants to wash an extra dish?) then put the stems under the water and cut them while they’re submerged. I leave mine under the water for a few seconds and then pop them straight into the already-filled-up-with-water container of choice. That’s it.
I’m sure there’s a super-sciency way to explain why this works so well. My super un-sciency-explanation is that this process keeps air bubbles from being trapped in the stem and inhibiting water uptake.
Boom! Your bouquet is now ready to 💪🏼 live its best life 💪🏼 on your bathroom counter.
Have any of y’all tried these yet? (Or does anyone have any unprocessed early-flower-death stories you’re still carrying around with you? Because no one should have to walk that road alone. This is a safe space. We’re all here for you.)
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Thinking about trying your hand at saving your corms from year to year? It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy. And coming up next…
Xo
Anne