Flower expert reveals genius fruity hack to make cut flowers last for ‘several weeks’
THERE’S nothing better than a fresh, beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting in your home.
Not only do they bring a burst of colour and freshness to any space, but they also smell amazing.
But you might be put off from buying cut flowers knowing that they won’t last for very long.
Luckily, one expert has shared her genius fruity hack that will keep them looking amazing and vibrant for longer.
Elise Harlock, brand manager at Prestige Flowers, promised the budget-friendly tip will make them last for several weeks.
All you need to do is add a few apple slices to the water of your vase after you cut the end of the stems from your flowers.
Elise said: “Using apple slices in the water of your vase can help cut flowers last longer.
“The natural sugars and acids in the apple provide nutrients to the flowers, helping to keep them fresh for up to several weeks.
Explaining the straight-forward method, she added: “Begin by slicing a fresh apple into thin wedges.
“Then, place the slices at the bottom of a clean vase filled with room temperature water.
“The apple slices act as a natural source of food for the flowers, providing essential nutrients that they would otherwise lack once cut from their roots.
“Finally, arrange your cut flowers as usual, ensuring their stems are submerged in the water alongside the apple slices.”
It might sound like a bonkers idea, but there is some science behind the clever hack.
Apples release ethylene gas, which is a natural plant hormone that promotes ripening.
So by putting them into water, the gas is released and it can help delay the wilting process in cut flowers.
And this keeps them looking fresh and lively for days longer than usual.
But Elisa stressed that you need to change the water and apple slices every few days for it to work best.
She advised: “Regularly refreshing the water and replacing the apple slices ensures that the flowers continue to receive the nutrients they need to thrive.”
Which flowers benefit the most from this hack?
IF you're tempted to ty this hack but aren't sure which flowers would benefit the most fom it, Elisa has you covered.
She suggests that flowers with woody stems.
This includes roses, hydrangeas, and lilacs, which all tend to respond particularly well.
She explained: “These types of flowers benefit from the nutrients provided by the apple slices, helping them to stay hydrated and vibrant for an extended period.”