Keeping Lilies Fresh

Lilies have an exotic look and a delicate nature. Because these blooms are so tender, it is vital that you treat them with care if you want them to last. If you receive a lily-rich bouquet, there are some things you can do to increase the life of the flowers and keep your beautiful gift looking good longer.

Prep The Lilies

The actions you take immediately after receiving your lilies can play an important role in determining how long the blooms last. Before dunking cut stems into a water-filled vase, re-cut the stems at a 45-degree angle — this improves the lilies’ ability to suck up the life-giving water that will keep them looking fresh.

Keep Away From Sunlight

Though planted lilies do well in sunlight, cut lilies do not. Once cut, these flowers require a cool environment; this increases life length and keeps the blooms looking fresh longer. To ensure that your lilies have the best chance at survival, place them out of direct sunlight and in an area that remains relatively cool.

Add Water Regularly

Like others in the flower world, lilies require fresh water to survive. Many lily bouquet recipients make the mistakes of filling up the vase once, then allowing the lilies to stay in the same potentially stagnant water until they wilt. To prolong the lives of your lilies, replace the water often.

Remove The Pollen

Pollen represents an important part of flower anatomy, but for lilies, the presence of pollen can be a problem. If the pollen gets on the flower petals, it can eat away at these delicate flower parts, leading to a shorter life for your blooms. While you can’t remove pollen from some lilies, such as calla lilies, many lilies contain pollen that can easily be removed. Stargazer lilies, for example, feature a prominent central pistil surrounded by protruding stamens, each of which have pollen atop them. To ensure that your lilies remain fresh for an extended period of time, carefully pluck the pollen from each of these stamens, taking care not to allow the pollen to touch the petals.