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3 Tips to Make Your Flowers Last

Last night I had the wonderful privilege of participating in a flower arranging workshop with celebrity flower designer and author Michael Gaffney.

One of the biggest questions we had for the flower expert was: How do we make our fresh-cut flowers last longer? If you're going to splurge on flowers, whether it's for a special occasion or just to brighten up your home, you want them to last as long as possible, right?

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Here are Michael's 3 tips for getting the most out of your floral arrangement:

1. Hydration: Flowers wilt because they aren't hydrated enough. Instead of just giving them water through the stems, try turning the whole arrangement upside down and sticking it in a bucket of water for 30 minutes. This technique is especially effective for flowers that tend to dehydrate quickly, such as hydrangeas.

2. Bleach: Michael told us that those packets that often come with flower arrangements can't really be absorbed through the stems because they're in powder form. Instead, put a little bit of liquid bleach in the water your flowers are resting in.

3. Crowning Glory: Michael swears by this product, which works as a sealant and slows the deterioration of fresh flowers.

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