Apartment Therapy Los Angeles | How to: Keep Cut Flowers Looking Fresh

There's nothing that quite livens up a room like an arrangement of fresh cut flowers. Its a small touch that goes a long way to reward the eyes and nose, and its the first thing I suggest to friends who are looking for a quick solution for the decor blues when time is of the essence.

But there is a bit of simple science in keeping cut flowers looking their best for extended periods. Follow these easy steps to keep your new colorful house guests happy and healthy:

When purchasing flowers, look for ones with tight buds and shiny leaves. These are indicators of a healthy flowering plant.
You want to start this new budding relationship on a good foot, so use clean lukewarm water and also a clean vase.
Before arranging the flowers in the vase, cut off about an inch or two from the stems underwater, using a diagonal cut.
Commercial floral preservatives packets control bacteria, fungal and yeast growth, while providing food for your flowers. So use it or lose it.
Remove any leaves that are below the water line to prevent decomposition.
Change water every 2 days to prevent bacteria growth, and add a cube of sugar and a few drops of lemon juice each time the water is changed (similar to the wive's tale of using a penny and aspirin). These act in place of the floral preservatives. Think of this solution as Viagra for your flowers.
At night, flowers prefer to be kept in a cool (not cold) area, away from drafts (much like myself!).
Keep arrangement away from fresh fruit, as these release ethylene, a gas that accelerates aging/decomposition.