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There\u2019s nothing like coming home to\u00a0fresh flowers<\/a>. Seeing a colorful burst of blooms on my windowsill or kitchen counter is one of my simple pleasures in life, but I\u2019d be lying if I said buying bouquets every week<\/a> wasn\u2019t a costly hobby. Even though I buy my buds for cheap from local grocery stores<\/a>, it still tends to make a dent in my weekly spending budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Believe it or not, the key to picking out the longest-lasting flowers at a grocery store is choosing the cheap ones.<\/strong> Yes, you read that right! \u201cSpecific varieties of flowers that tend to have a longer vase life are roses, alstroemeria, carnations<\/a>, and chrysanthemums,\u201d Fleck says. \u201cThese are usually lower-price-point flowers and give you a good bang for your buck.\u201d That\u2019s also because the pricier flowers are usually more delicate, which means they\u2019re bound to have a shorter vase life since they\u2019re not as durable. \u201cDifferent varieties of flowers require different amounts of hydration and can be more fickle when it comes to varying temperatures, so sticking with a more hardy variety will ensure a longer vase life,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Although the dainty blooms like tulips, anemones, daffodils, freesias, and sweet peas are always tempting, their vase life is typically anywhere from three to seven days, whereas carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, roses, and sunflowers tend to have impressive vase lives, lasting around two to three weeks with proper care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n One of the key ways to prolong the life of flowers after bringing them home is to process them<\/a>. \u201cProcessing flowers is just a fancy term for cleaning them and conditioning them,\u201d Fleck explains. \u201cYou will need to unpackage them gently, take off all the excess leaves, and clean up the outer petals of the bloom if they need it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Once you\u2019ve done that, cut them at a 45-degree angle about a quarter of an inch up the stem. From there, place them in a batch of fresh, cool water and add a packet of flower food (which you can make yourself<\/a>!). For best results, Fleck notes to keep the stems clean by giving them a fresh cut every other day. Also, be sure to change out the water every day or two to ensure the blooms aren\u2019t soaking in bacteria.\u00a0<\/p>\n As for a pro tip, see if the grocery store will give you an additional packet of flower food<\/a>. If they do, add it to your flowers after you change the water. This will keep them fresher longer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n No matter how hard you might try to keep your flowers alive (good on you!), there\u2019s going to be a day where they\u2019re too far gone. But, fear not, because there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the freshest bunch every time (aside from checking the price tag!).\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe No. 1 thing to look at when it comes to flower freshness are the petals,\u201d Fleck says. \u201cIf they are firm and vibrant, this is a good sign they are fresh.\u201d To see if they are firm, gently touch them with your fingers, but be careful not to bruise them. Then, check the stems. Smell them to make sure they don\u2019t have a funky odor and feel them to make sure they\u2019re not slimy. If they pass these tests, they\u2019re good to take home \u2014 and they\u2019ll last a lot longer than you might have expected!<\/p>\n Buy: FloraLife Cut Flower Food Packets<\/a>, $11.99<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe Golden Rule for Picking Out the Perfect Grocery Store Flowers Is . . .<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Best Way to Care for Grocery Store Flowers<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
How Can You Tell if Grocery Store Flowers Are Fresh?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n