How to keep flowers fresh in a mason jar, day by day

Your mason jar bouquet settles onto the kitchen bench as if it has always lived there, and a few small habits keep it looking that way. Clean scissors, a jug of cold water and a cuppa while you work will do nicely. This is how to keep flowers fresh in a mason jar, day by day.

How to keep flowers fresh on day one

Lift the flowers out and set the jar somewhere cool and bright, away from direct sun and heat. Spring sun through a north window is lovely for you and hard on a bloom.

Stir the flower food that comes with your bouquet into cold water. Then trim 2 to 3 cm from each stem on a diagonal, which gives the stems more surface to drink with. Take off any leaves that would sit below the water line, because leaves left in the jar turn the water cloudy and tired.

If your jar holds roses, gently peel away the outer guard petals. They are there to protect the bud in transit, and they can look a little rough once the box is open. A velvety rose waits underneath. The rose jars are a good place to see what that looks like.

Be kind to yourself about the rest. Flowers are living things, so a bloom may open a little wild and a leaf may curl. A little wild, a little imperfect is part of the charm.

Trim the stems and change the water on days two and three

Every couple of days, tip out the old water, rinse the jar and refill it with cold water and flower food. Trim the stems on a diagonal again while the jar is empty. It takes about as long as the kettle does.

Tulips like attention early, so give them a fresh trim on day two. Iris and lilies follow on day three, while Peruvian lilies, sunflowers and roses can wait until day four.

Picture Mum's kitchen on a Sunday morning, someone tipping the old water down the sink and topping the jar back up. That is the whole routine.

Day four: how to keep flowers fresh with a proper reset

Day four is the reset. Peruvian lilies, sunflowers and roses all appreciate a full trim and a change of water with fresh flower food. Remove any petals or leaves that have given up, and wipe the inside of the jar.

Keep the jar out of drafts as well as sun. A bench near an open door or a fan will dry the blooms faster than you would expect.

If you like to arrange your own flowers, the same habits apply, and the mixed bouquets at Bunches and Stems are one place to start. The flower care guide covers each step in more detail.

What to do with the mason jar afterwards

When the last stem has finished, wash the jar and keep it. It suits a pantry shelf or a posy of garden clippings for a friend. A jar that has held one bouquet is usually ready to hold another, and you can choose the next from the everyday favourites.

Common questions about how to keep flowers fresh

How often should I change the water?
Every couple of days. Use cold water with the flower food that came with your bouquet, and trim the stems on a diagonal each time.

Where should I put my jar?
Somewhere cool and bright on the bench, away from direct sun, heat and drafts.

Why keep the jar away from the fruit bowl?
Ripening fruit gives off a gas called ethylene, which ages cut flowers faster.

What if something looks wrong when it arrives?
Email wecare@melsflowers.au within 24 hours of delivery and the team will help with a replacement, credit or refund.

Pick your next jar at melsflowers.au and choose your delivery date at checkout.