Flowers can brighten up any space, but having flowers that wilt and die quickly is no fun. Check out some practical tips from Apartment Therapy for enjoying your cut flowers for longer:

Make Sure Your Scissors Are Sharp

If you cut your flowers with a dull blade, you’ll end up crushing the stem and therefore shorten the lifespan of your flowers. Cut the stems with very sharp scissors to ensure that your flowers receive the most amount of water possible.

Don’t Mix Flowers and Fruit

When certain fruits ripen, they give off a gas that speeds up the ripening of other things around them. Since fruits and can also make your blooms wilt faster, keep your fruit bowl away from your cut flowers.

Hot and Cold Matters

If you want you flowers to bloom more quickly, fill your vase with hot, but not boiling, water. However, if you just want the blooms to last longer, fill the vase with cold water. You can even through in a few ice cubes if you’d like.

What are some of your best tips for keeping your cut flowers in good condition for longer?

Find more helpful tips over at Apartment Therapy’s 5 Tips for Better, Longer Lasting Cut Flowers.