Today is Mother’s Day! Dining tables in the kitchen, coffee tables in the living room and windowsills all around the house will be decorated with flowers this weekend in celebration of the day. Whether it be a vase full of
Today is Mother’s Day!
Dining tables in the kitchen, coffee tables in the living room and windowsills all around the house will be decorated with flowers this weekend in celebration of the day.
Whether it be a vase full of a dozen roses or a carefully arranged variety of flowers, there’s nothing like a colorful bouquet to brighten up a Mother’s Day.
But in the excitement of receiving the flowers and in adoration of them, some tend to forget about floral care.
“Most people forget to trim the stems,” said April Meadows of Flowers and Joys in Kapa‘a. “They really should trim the stems every couple of days.”
Always trim the stems of the flowers before placing them in a vase of water.
“The ends of the flowers tend to get clogged. The trimming allows the flowers to absorb more water and absorb more nutrients,” Meadows said. “It can help prolong the life of the flowers.”
The water in the vase should also be clear. If the water turns cloudy after a few days, it should be changed.
In the case of arrangements in floral foam, they should be soaked with water.
Flowers also should not be placed in direct sunlight. Natural light is best, making the indoor tables and above the sink, kitchen or bedroom windowsills the best places for them. Placing them in direct sunlight will dry them out.
“It’s just the heat of the sun,” Meadows said.
Most flowers will last several days, depending on the type of flowers they are and the kinds of care they receive.
Small rose and lily buds will fully bloom in about four days. Tulips and iris fully bloom in about two days.
Remember to remove any leaves that may be submerged under water when placing the flowers into a vase.
And just because a flowers’ petals have wilted over, that doesn’t mean that the flower is old and dying. Chances are, the bottom of the stem needs to be trimmed. The flower will then revive itself into a pretty bloom again.
Happy Mother’s Day and enjoy the flowers.
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
