How to Prevent Flowers From Wilting in the Heat
Having fresh flowers in your home, on your porch, or decorating outdoor structures in your backyard adds instant style and beauty wherever they are placed. During the hot days of summer, though, these blooms may wilt and die much sooner than they should. Keep your fresh florals healthy and hydrated during high-temperature days by following the below tips brought to you by the floral experts at Cascade Flowers.
Tips for Keeping Flowers Hydrated on Hot Summer Days
Fresh-Cut Flowers in a Vase
- When collecting cut flowers, do so in the morning for the best results. Flower stems are filled with water in the morning, whereas picking them during the hottest part of the day will lead them to wilt quicker than usual.
- Place stems into a container of cool water. Beforehand strip each stem of all leaves that will fall below the waterline. Also, recut each stem at a 45-degree angle with a sharp pair of cutters to avoid crushing the stems.
- Place the container of fresh-cut blooms in a cool place, a cooling closet or refrigerator is fine, and leave for several hours or overnight. This allows the flowers to drink up plenty of water before being displayed in a warm environment.
- For flowers with heavy blooms on a soft stem, prevent bending and drooping by wrapping them in newspaper or wax paper so they stand upright.
- When displayed outdoors or in a warm area, monitor the water level daily and refill as necessary. Also, change the water, remove dead or dying leaves, and re-cut the stems every 2 days to keep your blooms looking fresh for longer.
Flowers in a Container, on a Trellis, or in a Garden
- You’ll know your plants and flowers are suffering from heat distress if the leaves and blooms are wilted in the afternoon but are fine the following morning. Other signs are brown, yellow, or white spots on the petals or leaves and dropped buds.
- Prevent wilting by making sure the roots receive consistent watering, feeding, and regular weeding. Early morning waterings are better than evening watering where fungal disease may occur.
- Place flowering plants in a shady area to prevent wilting from excess heat. If this is not possible, place a shade cloth or umbrella over them to protect them from the sun.
- For vines or blooms decorating an outdoor structure, use plastic water picks to place stems and roots in to keep the vine and flowers hydrated.
- Container plants tend to dry out quicker than those in the ground, so check their moisture regularly. They made need to be watered twice a day if the climate is hot, dry, and windy.
- Move container plants indoors or into the shade to prevent wilting from the heat. Also, keep a saucer under the containers so they can soak out water as needed.
- Dark-colored pots absorb more heat and unglazed terra-cotta pots lose water more quickly and may not be the options for plants that will be in the sun.
Plant Heat-Tolerant Flowers Instead
If you live in a climate with excessive heat and hot summers, you should consider planting flowers that are native to the area or heat-tolerant varieties such as Black-eyed Susans, Sedum, Bottlebrush, Begonia, Hibiscus, and Blanket Flower to name a few.