How To Keep Flowers Alive After Valentine's Day

It’s Valentine’s Day. Chances are good that you’ve either given or received a bouquet of flowers at some point today. After the ooh-ing and ahh-ing is finished, you’ll want to keep the flowers alive beyond the big day, so we thought we’d give you a few pointers to keep your gift fresh, vibrant and (most importantly) alive, courtesy of Sarah Johnson at Elite Floral (1257 E. Republic Rd., 417-882-0400).

1) Remove flowers from container.
2) Cut the stems diagonally using a pair of scissors or a knife.
3) Fill vase or jar with warm water
4) Place flowers in vase.
5) Move vase to a viewing location that is slightly cool in temperature.

Also:

• Make sure the water level is always at the brim.
• Add preservatives once a week. Many times these come with the bouquet.
• If you run out of preservatives you can try a lemon-lime soda as a home remedy.

How long your flowers last will vary by the quality and type of flower. Just be sure to take pictures of your beautiful gift, since it won’t last forever...unless, of course, it’s a silk bouquet. But nobody’s buying those for Valentine’s Day—right, boys?