Being creative with flowers can be a fun project and can save you money. It will be important to know how to preserve the flowers to make them last longer.  Begin by cutting them at an angle.  Make a concoction of baby aspirin, drop of bleach, and some sugar to keep out bacteria, nourish the flowers and help the flower absorb water.  You can make your own centerpiece by creating a grid on a vase with scotch tape or floral tape.  Use rocks and fruit at bottom of vase with stems to hold up the flowers and decorate the bottom of the vase.  Always check on flowers each day if they need more water, a change of water or dead leaves removed.

Knowing how to put flowers together is a creative skill everyone appreciates. Practice at home with different vases and flowers. Flowers make a home beautiful; learn how to make beautiful bouquets.

When you bring flowers home, immediately attend to them. They should not sit long without water. Strip stems so that no leaves are covered by water. Cut stems (making the sharp edge) to about twice the height of the vase, leaving several stems an inch or two longer for the center of the bouquet.  A sharp edge cut at an angle is needed to allow water to enter the flower stems.  A ragged edge actually inhibits water and food absorption and will make flowers fade faster.  You may use garden clippers, a sharp knife or scissors to get a sharp edge.

Next you must prepare the water - always use lukewarm water to fill the vase. You do not have to fill it to the top - ¾ full is sufficient. Put in an aspirin, drop of bleach, floral food or a teaspoon of sugar to nourish the flowers and help them last longer.

Flower arrangements are not static. You shouldn’t just make them, ignore them and then expect them to flourish. If you are out of water or if the water is cloudy, this is a sign of a bacteria infestation and means you need to clean the vase and change the water.

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