MY STORE: 
With spring in full swing, why not spruce up the living room or surprise that special someone with freshly cut flowers from Gerrity’s floral?
Here are some suggestions of how to extend the life of your spring/summer bouquet that should give you the most beauty for your buck.
- Keep the vase and water clean.
This is extremely important, which is why it’s Tip #1. Start by washing your vase with hot, soapy water. This will help to cut down on bacteria. You may even want to add a bit of bleach (1/4 teaspoon per quart of water) in order to keep the water free of harmful microorganisms. Oh, and change the water at least every other day. - Remove leaves from the stems.
You want the submerged sections of the stems to be free of leaves because this greenery will break down in the water and bacteria will grow. - Trim the stems.
It’s not enough to get the flowers home and stick them in water. As you saw in Tip #2, there’s a bit of prep work. It’s a good idea to separate each flower, look it over, and cut 1-2 inches off the bottom of each stem at a 45° angle using a sharp knife or scissors. Immediately place the flowers in water to prevent air from entering the stems. - Use the flower food packets.
Cut flowers still require nutrients, so make sure that you mix one packet per pint of water every time you change the water in the vase. - Placement is key.
Flowers thrive in cooler temperatures, so be smart about where you place them. Try to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Bonus Tip:
You may want to consider the following types of spring/summer flowers, all of which should last about two weeks.
1. Carnations
2. Lilies
3. Alstroemerias
4. Freesias
5. Peonies
Gerrity’s floral designers are located at our Keyser Avenue, Scranton, and Hanover Township stores and delivery is available to the greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas.