How to Cut Fresh Flowers to Encourage New Blooms

Fresh cut flowers are an easy way to brighten up the home. Fresh cut flowers from the flower shop have closed buds that open over time if the flowers are properly taken care of at home. Getting new flower buds to bloom on your freshly cut flowers requires keeping the plant alive long enough to bloom and giving it the right nutrients to force the new flowers.

• 1

  Cut your flowers from the plant at a 45-degree angle close to a node (where the leaves sprout from the stem). This promotes new growth on the plant and prepares the flowers for the vase. Cut the flower in the morning to prevent stressing the plant.

• 2

  Remove all the leaves from the bottom of the stem. This keeps leaves from sitting in the water and causing decay.

• 3

  Crush the stems of woody flowers stems 2 cm away from the end of the cut to promote nutrient absorption.

• 4

  Fill your vase with water and add 1 tsp. of bleach per liter of water in the vase to kill off bacteria. Add 1 tsp. of sugar per liter to give the flower sustenance.

• 5

  Change the water daily to prevent bacteria from forming and to provide the flowers with oxygen. This promotes new blooming.