DAHLIA CUT FLOWER CARE
Vase life of dahlias varies greatly from cultivar to cultivar. Generally, cut dahlias have a vase life of 3-5 days. Our general rule of thumb is that the bigger the bloom, the shorter the vase life. So while the large dinnerplate dahlias put on a good show, their beauty is fleeting. Here are some tips to get the most out of your dahlias:
Get your dahlias back in water as soon as possible. They don't like being out of water for extended periods of time. If you have a long commute, possibly think about bringing a vase or large cup for your flowers to sit in for their journey home. Never leave your flowers in the car out of water -- this will severely impact vase life.
Make sure you have a clean vase! Before putting your dahlias in the vase, disinfect it with a bleach solution. Better yet, you can run your vase through the dishwasher. This will destroy any bacteria that may be present. Do this every week before your new share arrives.
Strip any foliage that will be under the water in your vase. Bacteria will form and multiple quickly if foliage is left to die/decay in the vase and will cause premature death of your bouquet.
Fill your vase/container with water that is comfortably hot to the touch (100-110 degrees is what we're aiming for). Warm water moves up through the stems more readily than cold water. While the water is cooling off, stems are "hardening off". Stems will take up as much water in the next two hours as it will the rest of their lives. Flowers treated in this manner will lose less water. The main objective is to get as much water and nutrients (floral food) up into the stems as quickly as possible.
Before placing the flowers in your vase, re-cut the dahlia stems. Cut about a quarter of an inch off the bottom at a 45 degree angle. Use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to make a clean cut. Avoid crushing the stems as this will damage the stem's vascular system and block water uptake. Cutting at an angle allows the stems to sit raised up from the bottom of the vase and maximizes the surface area to take up water. Place stems in your vase as soon as the cut is made to prevent air pockets from forming
Keep your flowers away from sunlight (windowsills), hot air (atop TV/AC units), or cold drafts (in front of a blowing AC). They should not be put near/next to ripening fruit, especially bananas and melons.
After 2 days, completely change out the water in your vase and continue to change your water daily and recut the bottom 1/4" of stems again before return to a clean vase.
Flowers that are going limp are not taking up water. Remove and discard dead foliage/flowers periodically .
With these care tips, we know you'll be expert dahlia caretakers. If you have any questions or would like additional tips, please don't hesitate to email us.