Caring for Valentine’s flowers and plants: Tips for keeping your gifts fresh and vibrant

By Editor | February 19, 2025 |

By Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension, Horticulture Educator

Valentine’s Day is a time for expressing love and appreciation for others, which is often done by giving cut flowers and, increasingly, potted plants. Whether you’ve received a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, here are some tips that can help you care for them to keep them healthy and attractive as long as possible.

Caring for cut flowers
While roses are the most popular cut flower given on Valentine’s Day, a variety of other flowers, such as tulips, carnations, and lilies, are also gifted. With proper care, cut flowers can be enjoyed for a week or more.
Use a clean vase, wash the vase with warm, soapy water, and rinse it well.
Remove any foliage that will be submerged in water. These leaves can quickly decay and lead to bacterial growth, which will shorten the life of the flowers.
Cut off the bottom ½-1 inch of the flower stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp scissors or a knife. This will increase the surface area for water absorption and help the flowers stay hydrated.
Fill the vase with fresh water and add the flower preservative that often comes with the bouquet.
Place flowers in a cool, brightly lit area. Avoid direct sun, drafty areas, and heat sources, which can shorten the life of the flowers.
Check water levels daily and add water as needed. Change the water if it becomes cloudy or starts to smell, and add more floral preservative. Finally, remove flowers as they begin to fade and wilt.

Caring for Valentine’s potted plants
While a variety of different plants are gifted on Valentine’s Day, some popular potted plants include miniature roses, orchids, and succulents.

Miniature roses
Miniature roses need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight; south and west-facing windows are usually the best option. If direct sunlight cannot be provided, they can be grown under artificial lights. Keep soil moist, watering when the soil surface feels dry. Plants can be fertilized with a dilute fertilizer once or twice a month. Deadhead flowers as they begin to fade. Plants can be moved outdoors in spring once the danger of frost has passed. Miniature roses are hardy plants and can be planted in the ground in a sunny location or kept in their pots and brought back indoors in the fall.

Orchids
Phalaenopsis orchids grow best in bright, indirect light. They prefer warm temperatures (70 to 80° F) during the day and slightly cooler temperatures at night (60 to 70 ° F). They also need relatively humid conditions (40-60% humidity), which can be difficult to reach indoors, especially during the winter. Placing the plant on a tray filled with pebbles and water, grouping plants, or running a humidifier, can help increase the humidity around them. Water orchids when their growing media gets dry until water runs out of the pot.
Succulents
Succulents will do best in a window that receives bright indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. Artificial lighting can also be used. Most succulents will do well in typical home conditions, preferring temperatures from 55°F to 75°F and low humidity. The number one killer of succulents is probably over-watering. When watering, wet the entire root ball, but don’t let the plants sit in water for more than a few hours. Let the soil dry between waterings. Depending on growing conditions, plants may only need to be watered every few weeks.

Good Growing Tip of the Week: Commercial floral preservatives usually contain sugar, an acidifying agent, and an anti-microbial compound, which will help increase the vase life of flowers and work better than homemade concoctions.

ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.