Bad Flowers vs Good Flowers

When you buy flowers, are you able to tell if they are going bad? There are a few ways to tell the difference between flowers that are about to die and flowers that still have lots of life left. In this post, I will be going through some of those differences that I have noticed and what you should look out for when shopping for flowers! Here is some information about bad flowers vs good flowers!

Feel the Flowers!

1. When you are looking at the options of flowers to choose from, don’t be afraid to feel them! The easiest way to tell if they are bad is if they are soft and squishy.
2. Roses are the easiest to tell, in my opinion. When you feel the base of the rose, it should be close to rock solid. If it is soft and you can squeeze it, it is going bad and won’t last very long.
3. Other flowers that are easy to tell by feeling them are carnations. When you feel the base of the carnation, it will be soft but if it is really squishy, it is about to go bad.

Look for Brown!

1. Some flowers, like the daisy and sunflower for example, turn brown when they are going bad.
2. The center of the daisy will turn dark brown and the petals of the sunflower will also have brown specks.
3. I have also noticed brown spots on lilies occasionally. Always be sure to look closely for brown spots on the petals, on the center of the flower, and even the stems!

Wilting or Yellow Leaves

1. Sometimes the leaves of the flowers will start to wilt or get crispy. This is a sign that the flower is at the end of its life.
2. Most of the time, it can be hard to tell this way because it is recommended to take the leaves off if they are in water. I like to leave a couple leaves on the top of the stem, closer to the bloom, because it adds to the arrangement and can help you tell when your flowers are about to die.
3. If the leaves are turning brown, this is also an indicator that the flower is dying. So if you notice yellow leaves on flowers when shopping, try to stay away from purchasing them!

The most important takeaway is to look at the flowers before you buy them! Lots of larger stores that sell flowers on the side don’t check their flowers as often as they should. Be sure to check all aspects of the flowers before purchasing them – don’t be afraid to look beyond the packaging.

For more tells, read here for more information!