| Step
4: Find a spot
for your flowers. Lower arrangements work well on dining and
coffee tables, where they'll sit prettily without impeding your
ability to carry on a conversation with folks sitting on the
opposite side of the table. Taller arrangements, on the other
hand, can perk up a plain windowsill, mantelpiece, or corner of
the room. Wherever you end up placing your flowers, it's a good
idea to keep the blooms away from excessive heat and freezing cold
drafts. Also keep away from fruits, which give off gasses as they
ripen that will speed up the wilting process of your flowers.
Step
5: Add more
water every day to keep the blooms hydrated. Change the water
every three days, and recut all stems as well. Nip off any wilting
blooms. All this will mean that your arrangement steadily shrinks
in size; change the vase as necessary to accommodate this. When
the flowers are approaching imminent death, snip off the few
remaining blooms, float them in a bowl of water … and start
plotting your next trip to the flower shop.
o |
| Flowers
with good lasting power:
Some flower varieties are just built to last longer than
others. These varieties can all go a couple of weeks or so,
possible even longer if bought from a good florist and
provided proper care…
good
bang for the buck:
Asiatic/Oriental lilies are pricey but offer good
value, as they'll keep sending up new big showy blooms even
after they've been cut, and a single stem will generally
have 3-6 buds. Do, however, make sure to remove the
reddish-colored stamens as soon as the flowers open; not
only do they make a mess, but leaving them on will make the
flowers wilt sooner. Cymbidium orchids are another
sensible splurge, as a single stem will yield a burst of
glamorous blooms that last and last.
cheap
and hardy:
Carnations, especially the little spray ones, are
inexpensive and last forever, even without much attention. I
know, I know, everyone pooh-poohs them for their cheapness,
but they come in a wide array of bright cheery hues and are
really kind of pretty. Chrysanthemums are another
good flower choice for the budget-conscious. |
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