Start with a Clean Vase. Use warm soapy water. Dirty vases harbor bacteria and shorten vase life.

Trim the stems. Cut ½–1 inch off each stem at a 45-degree angle using clean, sharp scissors or floral shears. Recut stems every few days to keep them drinking.

Use fresh water. Fill your vase with clean, cool water—unless you have woody stems like sunflowers or dahlias (they prefer warm water initially). Change the water daily or every other day.

Feed the Flowers. Add flower food. No flower food? Mix 1 tsp sugar + 2 drops bleach per quart of water as a homemade option.

Keep Them Cool. Display flowers out of direct sunlight, away from heating vents, electronics, or drafty windows. Heat = faster wilting.

Remove Foliage Below Water Line. Leaves in water = bacteria growth. Strip off any greenery that would sit below the water line.

Avoid Fruit. Keep flowers away from fresh produce, especially bananas and apples. Ripening fruit emits ethylene gas that causes flowers to age faster.

Refresh and Rearrange. After 3–4 days, remove wilted flowers and give the rest a fresh trim and new water.