As Vancouver has been experiencing unusually high summer temperatures, caring for flowers becomes more challenging. Whether you’re a florist, a flower enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys the beauty of fresh flowers at home, ensuring your flowers stay fresh and vibrant in the heat requires some extra love and attention. Here are some essential tips for flower care in hot weather:

Replenishing Water Frequently

One of the most critical aspects of flower care in the heat is ensuring your blooms have ample water. Just like our bodies, flowers drink more when they are exposed to high temperatures, leading to dehydration and wilting. Here’s how you can keep them hydrated:

• Check Water Levels Regularly: In hot weather, water evaporates faster. Check the water levels in your vases or floral arrangements at least once a day. Ensure that the stems are always submerged in water.
• Change Water Daily: Stagnant water can harbour bacteria, which accelerates the decay of flowers. Change the water daily to keep it fresh and free from contaminants.
• Add Floral Preservative: Use a floral preservative in the water. This mixture of sugar, acid, and biocide helps nourish the flowers, maintain pH levels, and prevent bacterial growth.

Keeping Flowers Away from Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight can be detrimental to flowers, especially during hot weather. The intense heat can cause flowers to wilt and lose their vibrant colours. To avoid this:

• Choose the Right Spot: Place your flowers in a location where they are shielded from direct sunlight. A spot away from windows that receive strong afternoon sun.
• Use Curtains or Blinds: If you want to display flowers in a sunny room, use curtains or blinds to filter the sunlight. This will reduce the intensity of the light and heat reaching the flowers.
• Rotate Arrangements: If your flowers are part of an outdoor event or display, rotate them periodically to ensure no single arrangement is exposed to the sun for too long.

Storing Flowers in a Cool Place Overnight

Heat accelerates the metabolic processes in flowers, leading to quicker aging and wilting (once again, just like with the human body!). Storing flowers in a cool place overnight can significantly extend their freshness. Here’s how to do it:

• Refrigerate: If you have space, storing flowers in a refrigerator overnight can be highly effective. Ensure the temperature is around 8°C. However, avoid placing them near fresh fruits and vegetables, as they emit ethylene gas, which can hasten flower decay.
• Cool Room: If refrigeration is not an option, place the flowers in the coolest room in your house. Basements or air-conditioned rooms can work well. The key is to keep the flowers at a lower temperature than the daytime heat.
• Avoid Drafts: While a cool breeze might seem helpful, direct drafts from fans or air conditioning units can dry out the flowers. Ensure they are in a cool but stable environment without direct airflow.

At Garden Party Flowers, we source our flowers locally from farms in Vancouver's lower mainland. This means shorter farm to studio shipping times so our floral arrangements and bouquets will last longer and be fresher.

Support local farms and our local business and order flowers today!