Prepping Flowers

1. Always use clean, sharp utensils (knives, clippers, or shears) when cutting flowers. Do not use paper of fabric scissors because these will crush the flower’s vascular systems and prevent proper water uptake.

2. Cut all flowers and foliage about one inch from the bottom at a 45 degree angle. Remove all the lower foliage that would be submerged in water. This will retard bacterial growth, which shortens the vase life of flowers and makes the water smell foul.

3. Immediately after cutting the stem, place it in a vase filled with cool water.