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Fresh flowers can fade quickly in South Texas heat, but a few basic care steps can help a bouquet stay attractive longer after it comes home.
Start with a clean vase and fresh water. Recutting stems at an angle before placing flowers in water improves their ability to take up moisture. Removing leaves that would sit below the waterline also limits bacterial growth that can shorten the life of a bouquet.
Keep the arrangement away from direct sun, heat vents and ripening fruit. Heat speeds up aging, while some fruits release ethylene gas that can cause flowers to deteriorate faster. A cool room with indirect light is usually a better choice than a sunny window.
Change the water regularly, rinse the vase and check the stems for soft or discolored sections. Florists also recommend removing wilted blooms as they appear so the arrangement continues to look fresh and healthy flowers have more room to open.
Commercial flower food can be helpful when used as directed, but the basic routine matters most: clean water, trimmed stems and a cooler setting. Those steps can make a grocery-store bouquet or special-occasion arrangement last noticeably longer.
