Nothing says summer like a fresh bouquet of sunflowers! These gorgeous flowers are a staple in summer bouquets. They have a long vase life and add a beautiful pop of color to summer bouquets. But they are also a heavy flower that tends to tilt downward and can be difficult to arrange. This article presents three tips for creating a beautiful, long-lasting, sunflower bouquet arrangement to maximize your sunflower’s potential. These tips are applicable to homegrown flowers or sunflowers that are purchased from a store or local Farmer’s Market. Enjoy!
Tip No. 1 – Harvest sunflowers at the proper time.
It does not take long for sunflowers to open up when they are ready to bloom. Therefore, when cutting sunflowers for a sunflower bouquet arrangement, you will want to cut them early. Harvest sunflowers when the outer petals or ray flowers are just beginning to open. At this time, the disk flowers in the center will not be open yet.
Harvest the cut sunflowers early in the morning, after the dew has dried but before they are too warm. Strip the bottom leaves from the stem and store in cool water as soon as possible.
Tip No. 2 – Choose the correct vase and stem length for your sunflower bouquet.
Sunflowers are heavy flowers that naturally tend to droop or face downward. This next tip is applicable to sunflowers that you harvest yourself or flowers purchased from the store. First, choose the correct vase for your sunflowers. I recommend arranging them in a vase that can support their weight. In addition, try choosing a vase with a narrow opening to hold the bouquet together. Tall pitchers or mason jars work well.
Regardless of what type of vase you choose, it is important to cut your sunflower stem to the proper length. Trim the stems so only a few inches are showing above the rim of the vase. This helps prop the head of the sunflower so that it is facing up and allows for the flowers to be easily arranged. The images below show how cutting a sunflower to the proper length can help display its beauty.
Tip No. 3 – Provide fresh water and trim stems as necessary.
Fresh sunflowers are thirsty flowers that require lots of cool water. Whether you are storing fresh-cut stems or displaying a beautiful bouquet, it is important to have sufficient cool water. Change water frequently. If you are using a floral preservative in your water, try only mixing half at first. Then you can add the rest when you change out the water.
In addition, trimming the sunflower stems can allow the sunflower to last longer. Cutting the stems allows them to absorb water at a faster rate. This reduces premature perishing due to dehydration.
Enjoy your beautiful sunflower bouquet.
Make the most of your sunflower bouquets with these 3 tips for maximizing your arrangement.
Seasonal sunflower bouquets are currently being sold by Buckingham Avenue Market. For more information, please visit this link or check out Buckingham Avenue Market on Instagram or Facebook.
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