Tips on Cutting Your Flowers for Those Indoor Arrangements

Gather flowers in the morning or evening when they are stiff and fresh. Use clean, sharp pruners or knife. Bring a pail of clean, warm water with you into the garden and put the stems immediately into the water after cutting, advises Steven A. Frowine, a horticulturist with the Burpee Seed Co.

Indoors, put the cut flowers in a cool place for at least two hours to condition them before arranging. Use clean water in the final container. Strip off foliage from the part of the stem that is submerged. Adding a commercial flower preservative will further prolong the life of your flowers.