Summer Flower Care

The fourth of July is almost upon us and summer is in full swing. Living in the middle of the desert, flowers require extra special care during the brutal summer months. Even if you live in a more temperate part of the country, summer heat is not kind to fresh cut blooms.
If you tend a flower garden at home, be sure to cut flowers either early in the morning or later in the evening as flowers will have the most water retention during those times of day. Flowers always need a fresh clean cut with a sharp knife or pruners immediately before going into water. Scissors are generally not a good option, as they can crush the stems and prevent the flowers from drinking properly.Cut from an inch to half of an inch off the bottoms of the stems.
Most florists use a preservative mist called "Crowning Glory" or a similar product. It helps to prolong a flower's life and is clear and unscented. This can generally be purchased at your local craft store or online.
You may use flower food if you wish. I personally feel vase water that is changed daily is the best. Be sure your vase is immaculately clean and change the water daily. Bacteria growth will cut the life of your flowers down considerably.

And certainly last, but not least, keep your flowers cool. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Keep them away from any heat from appliances or anywhere drafty. Both heat and moving air take moisture from flowers at an accelerated rate. If you have purchased flowers and are delivering them yourself, never leave them in a vehicle without air conditioning running. It only takes a very short amount of time in the heat for them to be wilted and in disrepair.