If your flowers seem to be wilting, that is sagging and looking lethargic, simply spray them with some water. This process is called misting, and you'll be surprised how well it works.
“This ultimately creates a better exchange of oxygen and moisture. Misting one to two times per week can refresh your plants and keep them happy and thriving.” So it's OK to keep that pretty misting bottle near your plants—just don't let that be the only water they get.
A spritz of hair spray can help your cut flowers look fresh longer. Stand a foot away from the bouquet and give them a quick spray, just on the undersides of the leaves and petals.
The Benefits of Misting
Many of our houseplants come from the tropics, where humidity is very high. However, "the air in our homes is generally dry," points out Trey Plunkett, Lowe's lawn and garden specialist. Misting houseplants is a very simple and effective way to boost humidity.
As much as your fresh flowers need to drink up water through their stems, their petals will also benefit from a fine mist of water. Keep a spray bottle with fresh water next to your Bouq and mist the petals a few times a day. Not much water is needed, just enough to keep the petals moist and fresh.
Check your arrangement daily, and add water to the vase as needed. Most cut flowers will benefit from a daily mist of water.
It's also important to clean your vase thoroughly and change out the water and flower food every two to three days. Avoid Direct Sunlight, Heat, Drafts and Fruit Your flowers will last longer in a room with cool temperatures. Avoid displaying them in direct sunlight or near appliances that generate heat.
Misting creates humidity, and some tropical plants appreciate it (though there are more effective methods for increasing humidity around your plants), but it should supplement watering. To water properly, pour water directly on the soil until it runs out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
“A lot of people don't understand the importance of misting,” adds Jenkins. “Misting is one of the top things that you can do for your houseplants. I advise my clients to mist their houseplants one to two times per week.”
"Misting the surface can provide a bit of humidity to the foliage without directly spraying leaves," Resta notes, "and it can help oxygenate the soil." Additionally, she says misters can be really helpful during summer, or growing season. "Leaves are unfurling, and a mister is perfect to have handy," she says.
Whether you received flowers as a gift, regularly pick them up at the grocery store, or grow them yourself, one thing is for sure: You want them to last and (surprise!) spraying fresh flowers with hairspray can do just that.
Additionally, the flower heads (or 'florets') also absorb water so it is essential to mist the flower heads with fresh water every day to keep them properly hydrated. Even if the flowers become floppy, soaking them in a water bath for approximately 20 minutes can revive them.
Spraying Flowers:
Most flowers don't actually absorb water through their petals, it's usually only through the stem. So, while you can spray your flowers for aesthetic purposes, a full vase of clean water is the best way to treat your flowers. The exception to this rule is Orchids who do absorb through the petals!
Try not to water at night. Night-time watering is not ideal because your plants' leaves may not be able to dry off as quickly as other times of day. Wet leaves are more susceptible to diseases.
Simply pull down on the level and watch the aerosolized water form a soothing cloud of mist over your plant. Misting is highly recommended at least once a month, and more often with species that enjoy it (see full list below).
Plants growing in soil that is too wet suffer from a lack of oxygen which leads to the death of roots and a loss of vigor in the plant. Stunted slow growth with yellowing leaves is a symptom of over watering. Plants may suffer from leaf scorch or leaf burn.
Examples of some plants that don't appreciate misting are succulents and other drought-resistant plants like Aloe Vera and Jade Plants, as well as any plants that have fuzzy or hairy leaves, as it is easy to cause these kinds of leaves to rot if they get too wet.
As for misting — for the plants that need to be misted to thrive like air plants and ferns — it's best to mist them in the morning *and* the evening whenever possible. The morning mist helps to prepare them for the day ahead, while the evening misting helps create a little extra humidity.
Filtered water works best for your plants
Filtered water is not only good for you, but it's great for your plants too. If you're new to water filters, you could start with an activated carbon filter first since there's a wide range to choose from.
Most palm types, Ficus, Bamboo, and Schefflera, and others thrive in higher humidity. Most other non-succulent plants benefit from higher humidity because it reduces transpiration, leaf tipping, and can discourage mite pests.
Some plant owners mist the base of the plant and the surface of the soil, but this has little benefit. Don't worry about misting the soil because the water won't make it to the roots to be absorbed.
But below are some things to think about and look for to help you get it right for your plants. It's good to remember, plants will use more water if more water is made available to them, so you can allow them to dry out a little between watering and they don't need to be wet all the time.
Dropping a copper penny into the vase. The reason pennies are considered a smart way to keep flowers alive longer is because copper is a fungicide, so it naturally kills off those pesky bacteria and fungi that are trying to camp out in your flowers' vase and shorten the life span of your stems.
Using vinegar in flower water can help you keep your cut flowers looking fresh and vibrant for several days longer than they would without it. Adding vinegar to flower water helps to prevent bacterial growth, which is often the culprit behind wilting flowers.
How Long Do Flowers Last without Water? Cut flowers can go without water for hours or even a few days! It only depends on the plant species and how they are treated. Most cut flowers can't stay fresh for longer than 24 hours.