Gardening expert tells Mary Berry the secret to making your shop-bought flowers last longer
A GARDENING pro has told Mary Berry how you can make your shop-bought flowers last for longer.
Speaking to the former Great British Bake Off judge at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, expert florist Lara Thorpe revealed what to do to get the most out of your blooms.
She said: “With your flowers, when you get them home, it’s always good to take them straight out of the water that they arrive in.
“Then, cut the stems at a 45 degree angle and put them into fresh cold water in a clean vase”.
Cutting the stems at this angle, rather than straight across, allows for greater surface area and guarantees an increased water uptake.
The stems of your flowers should be sitting in fresh water to ensure they stay hydrated and protected from bacteria build-up.
Gardening pro Lara went on to reveal to Mary which flowers will last the longest.
She continued: “I would always say one of the carnations lasts the longest”.
Carnations can last up to three weeks in a vase, as long as you keep them away from direct sunlight and heat and regularly refresh the water.
It comes after one content creator demonstrated the small change that will boost your garden’s growth.
Elsewhere, a gardening whizz revealed that she swears by a little-known tree which stays beautiful all year and provides great privacy from nosey neighbours.