LIFE HACK: How to Keep Flowers Fresh in a Basket Vase

Over Easter, I created (with the help of Rachel of MyDIY.life) a beautiful brunch for my family using a lot of fresh flowers. We had at least a dozen vases to display the flowers in, but we also had two inexpensive lavender baskets that we wanted to use. Rachel came up with the genius idea to fill these baskets with the stems of the flowers she had cut for the other vases along with an Iris bloom and some of the greens she brought (btw – I have no idea what those green pom looking flowers are called!)

After the brunch was over, I wanted the flowers to stay fresh and last, but I couldn’t just pour water into the wicker basket… it would spill everywhere! So, I came up with this genius life hack. Here’s how to keep flowers fresh in a basket vase!

Step One: Supplies

Gather the supplies you’ll need to keep your flowers fresh for days! You will need…

Fresh Flowers
Inexpensive basket (I found mine at the Euro Store)
Resealable sandwich bag
Paper towels
Scissors
Water

Step Two: Line the Basket

Flip the edge of the sandwich bag over until it’s about the size of your basket and place it inside. This bag will create a lining for the basket. You don’t want any of the bag to show over the top of the basket.

Step Three: Add the Paper Towel

Since I don’t want the water to leak out of any hole in the bag, I place a paper towel in the bottom of the basket. This will help absorb the water, prevent it from leaking and still allow the flowers to “drink” and stay fresh.

Step Four: Trim the Stems

If you have a knife, use it to trim the stems of your fresh cut flowers so they can absorb water. This will help them stay healthy and vibrant.

Step Five: Arrange the Flowers

Arrange the flowers in the basket however you like. When Rachel first put together these baskets, she placed the beautiful Iris in the front, used the green blooms as fillers and the stems added height in the back. Beautiful!

Step Six: Add Water

Finally, add water to your basket. You won’t need more than about a 1/4 cup of water, probably even less depending on the size of your basket. Just enough to moisten the towel and give your flowers enough water to stay fresh. Add a tablespoon or two more water every day. Your flowers should stay fresh for 3-5 days!