Spring has officially sprung, bringing us lighter mornings and evenings, warmer weather and splashes of colourful flowers and plants. With Mother's Day approaching, many will be thinking about what gifts to buy to show appreciation for their mums.
Flowers are a popular choice; they're beautiful, smell great and come in all different shapes and sizes. But unfortunately they don't always last for too long, usually only staying fresh for between five days and a week.
That's why tombola has put together a handy list of nine clever hacks to make your flowers and plants stay blooming-marvellous for longer. Harnessing the creativity of social media users, all the tips come from video-sharing app TikTok.
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Some involve using household cupboard items such as milk, sugar or cinnamon, while others recommend the best ways to cut and store your fresh flowers.
Spray your real or dried flowers with hairspray
The first popular TikTok hack involves spraying your flowers with hairspray to make them last longer. Spritzing your bouquet with the hair product can keep the flowers in 'tip-top condition, ensuring they look pristine for longer and don’t wilt' in the same way it keeps your hair in place, according to Serenata Flowers.
The hack also works with dried flowers too. Dried flowers have become more popular in the last few years, due to them lasting between 1-3 years.
It's a perfect way to add a colourful bunch of flowers to your room, while saving yourself some money in the long run.
Add sugar and coins to tulips
Most Tulips flower around March and April, making them a firm favourite as a Mother's Day gift. You'll see plenty of them popping up in supermarkets and online flower delivery sites at this time of year.
To make these seasonal bouquets last a little longer, prick the stem using a small pin, fill your vase with water adding two small coins, and add a spoonful of sugar to make them last longer.
Some say the coin acts as an antimicrobial agent, reducing the microorganisms in the water to keep the flowers fresh. Experts from Columbia Road Flower Market also suggest changing the water in the vase every day can help increase the life span of your bunch.
Ice, white vinegar and soda water can benefit plant health
Adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to your plants keeps away bacteria and makes your plants last longer. The same can also be said for adding ice to your water, as this can keep flowers fresher and keep bacteria at bay.
Giving sugar, soda water, or an energy drink to your plants water, instead of the plant food, can help with giving nutrients to the flowers. Soda or carbonated water contains vital nutrients to help with healthy plant growth.
Keep fruit away from flowers
Did you know that having your flowers near your fruit bowl can affect how long they last for? When plants and flowers start to droop, this is a result of them producing the growth hormone Ethylene.
Some fruits such as tomatoes, bananas and apples produce a high level of this gas, which will lead to plants ageing and therefore dying off quicker.
Use clear tape to keep flowers in place
This clever TikTok hack works best for smaller bunches of flowers that may not fill your vase. To keep them from leaning, create a grid using clear tape across the top of the vase.
Arrange the tape across the top and cut away any excess. Place the flowers in the holes, which will keep them in place and save you handling them less.
Cut stems at an angle to absorb more water
To make sure your flowers are absorbing enough water, when arranging your flowers make sure you cut each individual stem at a 45 degree angle. This increases the surface area, therefore allowing the flowers to soak up more water.
Carefully use scissors or a knife, and avoid blunt objects - or you'll risk squashing the stem and causing the flowers damage.
Use 'off' milk to create a natural fertiliser
If your milk has started to spoil, don’t throw it away. Instead, use it for your garden.
Mix the milk with your soil and add it to the top of your plants to act as a natural fertiliser, while also saving you money.
According to Gardening Know How, milk contains 'beneficial proteins, vitamin B, and sugars that are good for plants, improving their overall health and crop yields.' The microbes that feed on the fertilizer components of milk are also beneficial to the soil.
Sprinkle cinnamon to protect your plants
Plants love cinnamon. Sprinkling cinnamon on seedlings can encourage growth, and it can also help to prevent disease in your plants.
But one of its main selling points is that cinnamon can stop bugs from eating the plants - which can only be a good thing if you're looking to keep them fresher for longer.
A glass bottle can keep your plants alive while you're away
Whether you're planning on a trip away any time soon, or if you're just looking for more tips to keep your plants hydrated, then keep on reading. All you need to keep your plants well watered are glass bottles.
Simply fill them up with water and stick them straight into the soil upside down. You could even water your plants before doing this, so the water lasts longer in the bottle.
According to home improvement expert Bob Vila, as the soil dries out from your last watering, 'fluid will slowly drip from the bottle into your soil, ensuring that your plant receives just the moisture it needs to thrive.'
