How to make your flowers last longer every time

How to DOUBLE the life of your flowers: Celebrity florist reveals her tips and tricks – and how you can buy the best bouquet every time

  • A top florist lifted the lid on how she preserves the life of her flower bouquets
  • Dr Lisa Cooper has worked with celebrities and big-name brands like Hermes 
  • She said to make flowers last longer, trim stems and replace the water daily
  • Lisa said the secret to an artful display is to trim the stems at different lengths 

A top florist has lifted the lid on how she preserves the life of her flowers, and her tips and tricks to help you buy and arrange the perfect bouquet every time.

Dr Lisa Cooper – who has worked with both celebrities and big-name brands including Hermes, Cartier and Tiffany & Co – is currently behind a stunning floral collaboration with restaurant BLACK Bar & Grill as part of the Star Sydney’s Festival of Indulgence.

Lisa told FEMAIL that the most important thing to do to make your flowers last longer is trim the stems as soon as you get them home, as this can double their life span.

A top florist has lifted the lid on how she preserves the life of her flowers, and her tips and tricks to help you buy and arrange the perfect bouquet every time (Dr Lisa Cooper pictured)

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BLOOMS LAST

‘There are many tricks when it comes to prolonging flowers’ life,’ Lisa told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Some subscribe to the notion of a drop of bleach in the water, others, apple cider vinegar and sugar. I’ve also heard that a coin or aspirin in the water will help.

‘Personally, I cut the stems off and immediately plunge the remaining flower stems into cold tap water.’

The florist said she also thinks trimming the stems regularly and replacing the water daily will help your flowers to last longer.  

Doing this and being diligent can even mean you get two to three more days of life from a bouquet. 

When looking to pick flowers from either a florist or the flower market, she said you need to look for vibrancy of colour and any signs of ageing (one of her bouquets pictured)

HOW TO PICK THE BEST BOUQUET 

When it comes to how you can make sure you buy the right flowers at the shop or flower market, Lisa said a thorough investigation is most important.

‘Look for vibrancy of colour as these will be the freshest,’ she advised.

‘You should also be on the look out for any signs or marks of ageing.’

Lisa added: ‘You want flowers that are in tight bud as these will also last longer.’ 

To make your bouquet look incredible at home, the florist advises cutting the stems at different lengths so that the ‘composition undulates’ (one of Lisa’s compositions pictured)

HOW TO ELEVATE YOUR DISPLAY

To make your bouquet look incredible at home, the florist advises cutting the stems at different lengths so that the ‘composition undulates’. 

‘Flowers will also always look best when displayed en masse in your favourite vases and vessels,’ she said.

Lisa is often inspired by art when making her incredible creations, and said it’s good to take something as inspiration when you go to create any floral display, even at home.   

Lisa’s latest installation with BLACK has been designed to draw on a theme of indulgence (pictured)

‘To my mind, there are no particular flowers that work well in particular seasons. The best flowers to invest in in any season are the flowers that you think are the most beautiful,’ she said.

‘Flowers are temporal, they are fleeting. In spring, a lily-of-the-valley will at best last a few days in a vase, but they might linger a lifetime in the memory and the heart.’

Lisa’s latest installation with BLACK has been designed to draw on a theme of indulgence.

The entire work – situated in the restaurant – is themed around the magnolia, and guests can enjoy the installation paired with dishes including lamb loin, Kurobuta pork chop and Wagyu beef terderloin.

Mercedes Sarmini (pictured), a veteran Sydney-based florist, revealed her tips and tricks for prolonging the life of flowers

Previously speaking to FEMAIL, veteran Sydney florist and the author of Blooming Personalities, Mercedes Sarmini, shared her secrets to making flowers last longer – and how she stops them from going brown. 

‘Flower food is highly recommended to prolong longevity in cut flowers. It’s a trio mixture of bleach, vinegar and sugar – however, it’s not recommended to use on most native cut flowers,’ Mercedes told Daily Mail Australia.

If you’re handling white cut flowers, Mercedes recommends you wear gloves as touching the flowers with your hands will accelerate the ageing effects.

‘This is because the tops of your fingers contain oil depositories, and when they come into contact with white cut flowers, this is why they turn yellow and brown,’ she said.

Mercedes also shared which flowers are best in which specific area of the home, and why they work

Mercedes also shared which flowers are best in which specific area of the home.

She revealed that lavender works in the bedroom because it’s a relaxant, and peonies are good for the dining and living room as they help to make a ‘marriage strong and prosperous’.

‘Iris flowers are good in the bathroom or bedroom because they help to clear out old energy and detox your body,’ Mercedes said.

‘While hydrangeas are best enjoyed in the living room and bedroom as they have the power to transform the old into the new.’

What is the best flower for each room of the home?

RED ROSES: These are best in the bedroom because roses are romantic and a relaxant. The colour red also increases your appetite and your heart rate and inflates areas of interest when it comes to romance.

LAVENDER: These are best enjoyed in the bedroom as it’s a relaxant and helps with insomnia and anxiety.

PEONIES: These are best in the bedroom, dining and lounge room as they work the magic of making your marriage strong and prosperous.

IRISES: These are best in the bathroom or bedroom as they clear out old energy and detox your body from all your bad addictions.

HYDRANGEAS: These are best enjoyed in the lounge room and bedroom as they have the magic transform the old into the new – it’s usually a life changing decision.  

Mercedes (pictured) shared which flowers she believes work best in each and every area of the home 

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Danielle Lloyd pregnant: Model expecting fifth child and vows to ‘try again’ if it’s another boy
Next post Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Planning to Move In Together Amid Heated-Up Romance