Watering funeral flowers is an important part of caring for floral arrangements at memorial services and funerals. The short answer is yes, you can and should water funeral flowers when needed. Proper watering will help the flowers stay fresh and last through the service.
Why Water Funeral Flowers?
There are a few key reasons why it’s important to water funeral flowers:
- Keeps flowers looking fresh – Flowers start to wilt and deteriorate quickly without water. Proper hydration keeps them looking vibrant and healthy.
- Extends flower life – Water enables cut flowers to continue hydrating through their stems. Well-hydrated flowers will last longer than dry, thirsty blooms.
- Maintains arrangement integrity – Wilting, drooping flowers can disrupt the look of a floral arrangement. Water keeps everything looking neatly structured.
- Shows care and respect – Taking the time to water flowers demonstrates you care about the memorial and want the flowers to remain pristine.
Water plays a critical role in maintaining fresh, attractive funeral flowers that honor the deceased. Taking steps to water florals shows loved ones that you want the flowers to last through the services.
When to Water Funeral Flowers
It’s best to check funeral flowers daily and water as needed. The frequency will depend on a few factors:
- Flower type – Heartier flowers like chrysanthemums and carnations may need less frequent watering than delicate roses or lilies.
- Environment – Warm conditions and direct sunlight cause flowers to lose water faster through transpiration.
- Container – Shallow vases or crowded arrangements may need more water than those give flowers room to breathe.
- Time since delivery – Newly delivered flowers should have adequate water, but may need more after a day or two.
As a general guideline, most funeral flowers need water every 1-2 days. For large events with freshly delivered florals, give all vases a good watering on arrival day. Check again the next day and add water as needed. Top off containers as you notice water levels getting low.
How to Water Funeral Flowers
Watering funeral flowers is simple, but there are a few tips to do it properly:
- Use room temperature water – Cold water can shock flowers. Lukewarm, room temp water allows stems to absorb it easier.
- Add floral food – Mixing in packet powders, like floral preservatives, provides nutrients flowers need.
- Fill vase fully – Don’t just top off, pour enough water to fill the vase and submerge all stem ends.
- Check water levels daily – Mark water levels with a permanent marker to easily see when to refill.
- Change water every 2-3 days – Replace old water with fresh water to rid stems of bacteria.
Take time with each arrangement to carefully water flowers. Submerging stems fully ensures each bloom gets hydrated. Marking vase levels makes it easy to monitor when more water is needed between changings.
Signs Flowers Need Water
Some key signs funeral flowers need more water include:
- Wilting or drooping blooms
- Dry, brittle petals
- Crinkled, dull looking leaves
- Lighter flower color
- Flowers feeling limp or mushy
- Vase water appears cloudy
- Low water levels in container
Don’t wait until funeral flowers start deteriorating before watering. Check arrangements at least once a day and water at first signs of dryness. It’s much easier to keep flowers hydrated than try to revive already damaged blooms.
Using Floral Foam
Many funeral flower arrangements use floral foam inside vases. Foam needs adequate moisture to properly hydrate flowers. To water foam:
- Submerge entire foam block in bucket of water until saturated.
- Let excess water drain before inserting back in vase.
- Repeat process as foam starts to dry out each day.
- Add water to vase just below foam line.
- Replace foam if it turns brown or stops wicking up water.
Soaking foam ensures all areas get fully saturated. Keeping the vase water level just below the foam prevents flooding. Monitor foam daily and resoak or replace if not properly hydrating flowers.
Using Floral Gel
Floral gel is sometimes used in funeral arrangements instead of foam. To water gel:
- Stir in more gel powder to absorb excess moisture if needed.
- Top off vase water as it gets low, keeping gel submerged.
- Change water every 2-3 days by draining vase and refilling.
- Remove wilted flowers right away to prevent bacteria spread.
- Replace gel if it becomes cloudy or murky.
The key with gel is keeping it fully immersed in water inside the vase. Flower stems can rot if exposed to air. Freshening the water periodically removes stem bacteria that accelerates deterioration.
Caring for Flowers Out of Water
Sometimes funeral flowers are displayed out of water, like wreaths or arrangements around an urn. To maximize their life:
- Spray blooms with water 1-2 times per day.
- Mist flowers using a spray bottle of room temperature water.
- Aim for leaves and petals, not just the stems and base.
- Keep flowers away from direct sun and heated air vents.
- Try adding cut flower food to the spray water.
Periodic misting provides additional hydration for flowers out of water. Keeping displays in cool, low light spots also helps slow water loss. However, expect shorter flower life than in-water arrangements.
Avoiding Problems When Watering Flowers
Watering funeral flowers improperly can actually do more harm than good. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Underwatering – Too little water accelerates wilting. Check water levels often.
- Overwatering – Excess water promotes bacterial growth. Stick to proper levels.
- Dirty water – Replace water every 2-3 days to keep stems bacteria-free.
- Warm water – Use room temperature water, not hot water.
- Tap water – Tap water contains minerals that can clog stems. Opt for distilled.
- No floral food – Nutrients help prolong flower life and come in handy packets.
- Inconsistent watering – Check all arrangements daily, not just some of them.
Avoid seesawing between too much and too little water. Measure vase levels and be diligent about daily checks to maintain consistency. Use proper water temperature and floral food too.
Signs Flowers Have Had Enough Water
It is possible to overwater funeral flowers. Signs of too much water include:
- Standing water in vase
- Flowers leaning over or out of position
- Brown, slimy stems
- Cloudy, murky vase water
- Algae growth in water
- Soft, mushy flower heads
If funeral flowers show these issues, pour out excess water right away. Trim any slimy stems and add fresh water with more floral food. Arrange blooms back into proper position after watering.
Conclusion
Watering funeral flowers properly is an important part of keeping arrangements looking their best for memorial services. Be diligent about checking water levels daily and refilling vases or soaking foam blocks as needed. Use room temperature, clean water and floral food to maximize flower life and health. Proper hydration preserves the beauty of funeral flowers as a tribute to the deceased.