Enjoying lilies for as long as possible
Thanks to their beautiful flowers, lilies are one of the most graceful flowers. But how can you enjoy these beauties for as long as possible?
Pedestal
In the Middle Ages, the lily was a symbol of the Virgin Mary and, therefore, also of purity and innocence. Women who wore lilies were put on a pedestal. Nowadays, lilies are still associated with the same symbolism, but these flowers actually deserve a pedestal of their own.
Striking appearance
With their impressive flowers with a diameter of 3 to 10 inches, lilies cut a striking figure. There are lilies to suit everyone’s taste: you can choose from a variety of colors as well as odorless, lightly scented or strongly scented varieties. Many lilies have colored stripes, edges or spots. And did you know that there are also lilies without pollen?
Care
Once you’ve bought your lilies, you will want to enjoy them for as long as possible. With proper care, they will brighten up your home for ten days or even longer.
Choose lilies with flower buds that are just starting to open.
Remove the lower leaves from the part of the stem that will be under water. Submerged leaves will start to rot, which causes unpleasant smells and will make your lilies last less long.
Use a sharp knife to cut the stems as diagonally as possible. The shorter the stem, the longer the lily will last.
Put the lilies in a vase with lukewarm water and cut flower food immediately after cutting. Make sure the vase is clean by cleaning it with bleach or washing-up liquid.
Change the water every now and then so that mold does not have a chance to grow and the water stays clear.
Place your bouquet well away from ripe fruit like bananas. Fruits emit ethylene gas, which causes flowers to wilt faster.
If you have a pollen stain, you can easily remove it with a piece of tape.
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