27/09/2023
Let's talk about vase life expectations for cut flowers! 🙌
First of all "vase life" is a fancy way of saying "how long a flower will last in a vase with proper care".
Vase life can vary wildly for each species of flowers… and within each species, there can be huge differences! 😮
For example, the average vase life for Dahlias is 3-5 days. We find…
… the bigger and looser the blooms/petals, the shorter the vase life.
…the tighter and more compact the blooms/petals, the longer the vase life.
These stunning "Cafe au Lait" Dinnerplate type Dahlias usually last about 3 days, which is why they are used almost exclusively as an "Event Flower" (and why they are almost always locally grown, as it's tough to ship such a fragile, short lived bloom).
An Event Flower is a flower used for one day events, like weddings and dinner parties, where they are only expected to look good for 1 day.
In contrast, some of the Ball type Dahlias can last for 5 days (I even have some that last 7 - 10 days!).
As a grower, it's important to choose Dahlias that are a good fit for the intended use. How do you want to use or display your blooms? Do they need to look good for 1 day? 4 days? 7 days? This will determine what you grow.
We don't do wedding flowers or work much with florists, so "Cafe au Lait" Dahlias or other Dinnerplate type Dahlias don't make a lot of sense for us to grow as cut flowers. We grow very limited quantities of them, mostly just for the tubers.
Instead, we tend to lean toward the Ball type Dahlias that have longer vase life (5 days-ish) and work well in bouquets and bunches.
How do you make your flowers last as long as possible?
Sparkling clean vase.
Fresh water daily.
Cool environment.
Out of direct sun.
Keep away from ripening fruit.
These tips, along with informed vase life expectations, will give you the best experience!
P.S. My husband is in love with the "Nonette" Dahlia tucked behind his ear. 😍🤣 She also has a shorter vase life but all is forgiven because she's so beautiful. 😉
