There’s something quietly magical about bringing flowers indoors. A handful of stems, still dewy from the garden, arranged in a jam jar or nestled into an old ceramic jug, they have a way of softening a space, of slowing the air. But even the most glorious bouquet, if neglected, will fade before its time.
Here are a few of my favourite ways to keep your flowers fresh and flourishing once they’ve been cut. Tips gathered over seasons of growing, snipping, and arranging here at Crawford Road.
1. Harvest at the Right Moment
Good vase life begins before the flowers even leave the garden. The best time to cut is in the cool of the morning or late evening; when plants are well-hydrated and the blooms not yet heat-stressed. Choose stems that are just opening, rather than fully open. Flowers like poppies will continue to open after cutting, giving you more days of beauty inside.
Each flower has its sweet spot sweet peas, for example, should be cut when the lowest bloom is fully open. Snapdragons do best when one-third of the flowers have opened. A little observation goes a long way.
2. Use Clean, Sharp Tools
This one’s easy to skip, but makes all the difference. Use sharp, clean snips or secateurs to avoid crushing stems. Bacteria introduced at this stage can shorten vase life dramatically. I keep a small spray bottle of diluted vinegar or methylated spirits on hand to sterilise tools.
3. Strip the Lower Foliage
Anything that will sit below the water line should be stripped from the stem. Leaves submerged in water will quickly decay, encouraging bacteria that block water uptake. Clean stems mean clearer water, and clearer water means longer-lasting flowers.
4. Warm Water and a Deep Drink
When you bring your flowers inside, place them straight into a clean bucket of lukewarm water and let them rest for a few hours somewhere cool and dark. This is called conditioning, and it helps the flowers recover from the shock of being cut. Some woody-stemmed varieties (like hydrangeas or lilacs) may benefit from a quick stem-scorch or hot water dip a few seconds in boiling water to unblock the vascular tissue before conditioning.
5. Trim Before Arranging
Once your flowers are rested, give each stem a fresh angled cut before placing them in your vase. This opens up the vessels inside the stem, allowing for better water uptake. Think of it like giving the flowers a clean sip.
6. Clean Vases + Fresh Water
Choose a sparkling clean vase, and change the water every 1–2 days. Each time you do, give the stems a quick re-trim. You can add a floral preservative, but I often just use a drop of white vinegar and a pinch of sugar, a nod to old-school gardener’s wisdom.
7. Keep Cool and Out of Direct Sun
Avoid placing arrangements in direct sunlight, near heat sources, or beside fruit bowls (ripening fruit emits ethylene gas, which speeds up fading). The cooler and more stable the temperature, the longer your blooms will last.
8. Remove Spent Flowers
As blooms fade, snip them away. This keeps the bouquet looking fresh and prevents ethylene gas build-up that can hasten the demise of nearby flowers.
A good bouquet isn’t just a pretty thing — it’s a fleeting moment, a gesture, a gathering of time and care. With a few thoughtful steps, you can stretch that moment just a little longer.
So go ahead — bring the garden indoors. Let it unfurl in your kitchen, spill over the hallway table, brighten a windowsill. These little rituals of care connect us to the seasons, and to ourselves.