When we create a flower arrangement we want the creation to last as long as possible. The proper conditioning of the cut plant material before arranging can ensure that the life of your flowers and greenery is prolonged as much as possible. The following methods for conditioning flowers have been tested and proven to be effective.
Maximize water absorption and water maintenance:
Cut your flowers early in the morning or near or after sunset.
Cut the stems as long as possible.
Place the flowers in warm water and leave them for several hours or overnight to absorb as much water as possible.
Split the ends of woody-stemmed flowers or branches. Place them in hot water and leave them for eight hours or overnight. For flowers with stems that bleed white milky juices such as poinsettias and poppies, sear the stem over a flame to seal the cut and preserve moisture.
Re-cut stems before placing the flowers in arrangements.
Minimizing Bacteria Growth
Use fresh water, clean clippers, and clean containers. To clean a container, fill it with water, add a small amount of liquid bleach, and leave it for at least fifteen minutes.
Remove all leaves that would be underwater in the arrangement to prevent the growth of bacteria and rotting.
Add a small amount of alcohol, liquid bleach, or sugar to the water in your vase or container to retard the growth of bacteria. Use the following proportions:
Alcohol: One teaspoon of vodka or grain alcohol, not rubbing alcohol, to one quart of water.
Bleach: One teaspoon of bleach to one quart of water.
Sugar: One tablespoon of sugar to one quart of water.
Since cut flowers absorb an amazing amount of water, add water to the vase or container daily. If the water is cloudy, add a little liquid bleach with the new water. There is really no need to change all the water in the container, just add water as needed. Be sure to check the water level daily.
Reviving Wilted Flowers
Re-cut ends of stems. Place stems in very hot water on a slant so that steam will not damage the blooms.
Guidelines for Conditioning Individual Flowers
Agapanthus (Lily-of-the-Nile): Cut when outer rim of the flower is showing its funnels. Buds will open after cutting. Condition overnight in warm water.
Ageratum: Condition overnight in warm water.
Ajuga: Condition overnight in cold water.
Allium: Condition for several hours or overnight in cool water. Add one teaspoon of bleach for each quart of water in the container to prevent an onion-like odor.
Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily): Condition overnight in deep, cool water.
Alyssum: Cut when buds are one-half in flower. Condition overnight in cool water.
Amaryllis: Split stems. Condition overnight in deep, warm water.
Andromeda (Pieris Japonica): Split stems. Condition overnight in deep, warm water.
Anemone (Japanese): Place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in cool water.
Anemone (Windflower): Place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition for several hours or overnight in cold water. Does not do well in oasis because stems tend to soften.
Angelica: Place stems in one inch of boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in deep, cold water.
Anthemis: No special treatment is required.
Anthurium: Cut stems underwater. Condition for one hour in warm water.
Apple Blossoms: Cut before bloom fully opens. Split stems. Place in hot water and condition overnight. Spray foliage with a fine mist of cool water.
Artemisia: Split stems and place in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in warm water.
Artichoke (globe): Placed stems in boiling water for one minute. Submerge completely in cold water for one hour.
Aster (Michaelmas Daisy Stokesia): Split stems and place in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in tepid water.
Astilbe: Condition overnight in warm water.
Aucuba Japonica: Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water. Foliage lasts for months.
Azalea: Split stems. Add one teaspoon of alcohol for each quart of hot water and condition overnight. Each small branch cut from the main stem must be reconditioned. Spray with a fine mist of cold water.
Baby's Breath (gypsophila): Condition for two hours or more in cold water.
Bachelor's Button (cornflower): Cut flowers when fully open because buds will not open after cutting. Condition overnight in warm water.
Bamboo: Place stems in boiling white vinegar for two minutes. Submerge in cold water overnight.
Baptisia (false indigo): Condition overnight in hot water.
Begonia: Place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in deep, cool water.
Begonia Rex Leaves: Dip stems in boiling water for thirty seconds. Submere in cold water for one hour. Place stems in cool ater and allow leaves to dry before arranging.
Bells of Ireland: Submerge overnight in cold water.
Bergenia: Submerge leaves for a few hours in cold water. Dry them off before arranging.
Berries: Split stems and condition overnight in warm water. Spray with clear plastic to prevent berries from dropping.
Bittersweet: Cut before fruit opens. Strip off leaves. Hang in a dark, dry place. Berries will open with no blemishes. Spray with clear plastic spray to prevent berries from shriveling.
Black-Eyed-Susan (rudbeckia): Dip stems in a small amount of boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in deep, cool water.
Bleeding-Heart (dicentra): Cut when flowers are one-fourth open. Do not take much foliage from young plants because it is needed to produce strong growth for the next year. Dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in cold water.
Blue Lace-Flower (didiscus): Cut when one-fourth to one-half of the flower has opened. Condition overnight in deep, cold water.
Bougainvillea: Remove foliage and thorns. Split stems, dip in boiling water for a few seconds, and submerge the spray in cold water for several hours. Stand in deep water for one hour or more to drip dry. Re-cut stems under water if shortening them for an arrangement. Spray regularly with a fine mist of cool water.
Boxwood: Split stems. Submerge overnight or for several days in warm water. To give a shiny look, add a small amount of vegetable oil to the water.
Burning-Bush: Condition for several hours in warm water.
Buttercup (wild): Place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in warm water.
Butterfly Bush: Cut when one-half of flower spike is open. Split stems and place in hot water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in cool water.
Butterfly Weed: Pick when flower is one-half open. Add two tablespoons of sugar for each quart of warm water and condition overnight. If flowers wilt, revive them in hot water.
Caladium: Dip stem in boiling water. Submerge the whole leaf in cold water for several hours.
Calendula (pot marigold): Condition overnight in deep, warm water.
Camassia: Split stems. Condition overnight in cold water.
Camellia: Cut an individual bloom when fully open. Wrap in wet cotton and condition in refrigerator overnight. When cutting a branch, split stems and condition overnight in warm water.
Candytuft (iberis): Split woody stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Canna: Leaves - dip stems in boiling water and then submerge in cold water for several hours.
Canterbury Bells (campanula): Sear stems. Condition in deep, cold water for several hours.
Carnation: Rub stem ends in salt. Condition for two hours or more in deep, cool water.
Caryopteris (hardy blue spirea): Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Cattail: Gather early in the season. Will last indefinitely out of water. Spray with hair or acrylic spray to keep them from disintegrating.
Cherry Blossoms (prunus): Split woody stes. Dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition for two hours or more in deep, cold water.
Chrysanthemum: Split stems. Remove foliage from stems that will be below the water line. Condition for several hours in deep, cold water.
Clematis: Split stems and place them in alcohol for several minutes. Then place stems briefly in a little boiling waer. Condition overnight in cool water.
Cleome (spider flower): Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Clover: Cut when flowers are about three-quarters open. Condition overnight in warm water.
Cockscomb (celosia): Cut when flowers are at least three-quarters developed. Under-developed flowers do not keep. Dip stems for a few seconds in boiling water. Condition overnight in cold water.
Coleus: Dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in cold water.
Columbine (aquilegia): Place stems in warm water for one hour before arranging.
Coral Bells (heuchera): Cut when one-half of spray is in flower. Condition overnight in warm water.
Coreopsis: Cut fully-open flowers with centers still tight. Condition overnight in deep, cold water. Add one tablespoon of salt to each quart of water.
Cosmos: Pick when center of flower is smooth and before pollen ripens. Condition overnight in deep, cold water. Pollen contains moisture which might harm furniture.
Crocosmia: Condition overnight in tepid water