Properly cutting flower stems is essential for maximizing their vase life. Whether you’ve received a bouquet or picked fresh blooms from your garden, follow these tips to ensure your flowers stay vibrant and beautiful:

1. Understand Flower Stems

Before we dive into cutting techniques, let’s explore different types of flower stems:

1. Hearty Stems:

   • Examples: Marigolds, celosia, statice, and clarkia.
   • These stems are solid and sturdy.
   • Place them in lukewarm water with preservative before arranging.

2. Hollow Stems:

   • Examples: Dahlias, hollyhocks, amaryllis, lupin, Bells-of-Ireland, and delphinium.
   • These stems are hollow and often have wide blooms.
   • Fill the stem with tepid water by turning the flower upside down and plugging it with cotton.

3. Bulbous Stems:

   • Examples: Hyacinth, tulip, iris, and daffodil.
   • These stems are pulled from the ground (not cut).
   • Cut right above the white bulb for better water absorption.

4. Soft Stems:

   • Examples: Anemone, hellebore, and freesia.
   • Condition them separately by placing the ends in tepid water with cut flower food.

2. Cutting Techniques

• Angle Matters: Always cut at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area, allowing the flower to absorb more water.
• Individual Cuts: Cut each stem separately to prevent crushing or damaging neighboring stems.
• Sharp Tools: Use sharp kitchen shears or a sterile knife for clean cuts.

3. Specific Tips for Some Flowers

• Daffodils and Hyacinths:

  • Cut horizontally (not at an angle) due to their softer stems.
  • Use cold water for these flowers, as they bloom in low temperatures.

• Daffodils:

  • Condition them separately; they exude poisonous sap that can harm other flowers.

4. General Tips

• Remove Leaves: Strip leaves from the lower half to two-thirds of each stem.
• Water Temperature: Use tepid water with cut flower food.
• Conditioning: Allow flowers to rest in water for an hour before arranging.
• Separate Bulbs: Store daffodils separately to avoid sap contamination.