When flowers get shipped, they usually come out of the box looking a bit tired. They’re not dead, but they need water fast. If you don’t hydrate them the right way, they’ll droop earlier than they should. The good thing is, you don’t need to be a pro to fix it. Anyone can do it with some basic steps.

So here are a few simple tips to keep your flowers in Knoxville TN, alive longer after shipping.

Cut the Stems First

This one sounds obvious, but most people skip it. When flowers sit without water during shipping, the bottom of the stems dry up. That means water can’t move up properly. So take a clean pair of scissors or clippers and cut at least one inch off the bottom at an angle. Doing this helps the stems drink water again. Don’t crush the stems, just cut them sharply.

Use Clean Water

Dirty water ruins flowers quickly. Always put them in fresh, room-temperature water. Change it every day if you can. This feels boring to repeat, but flowers will die faster if the water is not clean. Also, never fill the vase to the very top. Halfway is good, and then refill when it drops low.

Add Flower Food

Most shipped flowers come with those small packets of powder. Use them. If your florist in Knoxville, TN, hasn’t given one, you can make a quick mix at home with a spoon of sugar and a drop of bleach in the water. The sugar gives food, and the bleach keeps bacteria down. It’s not fancy, but it works.

Remove Lower Leaves

Leaves that sit in water rot fast, and that makes the whole vase smell bad. Take off the leaves that would touch the water. It may look like fewer greens, but it actually helps the flowers last longer. Less bacteria in the vase means more days of fresh flowers.

Also read The Best Flowers and Foliage for a Festive Thanksgiving Table.

Keep Them Away From Heat

Flowers hate heat. Don’t put them near windows with direct sun, stoves, or heaters. Shipping already stresses them out, so keeping them in a cooler place helps them recover. Even a small draft from a vent can make them dry faster, so avoid that.

Give Them a Rest

After unpacking, don’t start moving the flowers around or arranging them right away. Let them sit in water for a few hours first. It sounds too simple, but flowers bounce back better if they get some quiet time in the vase. Later you can arrange them the way you like.

Quick Extra Notes

• If the flowers look bent, wrap them loosely in paper and stand them in water for a few hours. It helps them straighten.
• Don’t store flowers near fruit. Fruit gives off ethylene gas that makes it wilt sooner.
• Hydration is important. Even expensive flowers wilt fast if they don’t get enough water.

Whether you buy from local flower shops in Farragut TN, or order online, the steps are the same. Cut, water, food, and clean vases. Following these tips will give your flowers extra days of life, which is always worth it.

Want flowers that already come prepped and fresh? Order fall flower delivery in Knoxville, TN, today from Petal Pushers. We’ll handle the hard part so you only enjoy the blooms.

Also read Simple Floral Ideas to Elevate Your Next Dinner Party.