How to make your flowers last forever
Bandana and Sonia of Flower Power Singapore will be more than happy to tell you
Okay, let me clarify that.
Obviously, flowers have a certain life span – but there are still a couple of ways for us to make sure that the memories and feelings associated with those flowers live on.
“Flowers are important in enhancing mental wellness, and historically they have been a symbol of love and affection,” state Bandana Kaur and Sonia Khiatani, co-founders of Flower Power Singapore.
“We all know that flowers naturally bring positive energy. They look pretty, smell good, and brighten up our physical environment, making us feel more comfortable.
“However, flowers actually operate on a deeper brain chemical level too! Studies have shown that flowers increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain – which are the exact same chemicals targeted by antidepressants,” they continue.
“There is also evidence that flowers reduce anxiety, encourage social interaction, and improve memory function.”
The people have spoken
How do Bandana and Sonia know all this?
They’ve seen the amazing results just by working for – and meeting people through – Flower Power Singapore. “Our aim is to bring joy and positive energy to the community by repurposing flowers from large events like weddings and corporate functions,” share the two.
“We collect flowers, repackage them into mini bouquets, and deliver them to those who need it the most, such as hospices, community service centres for the elderly and mentally ill, and women’s shelters – thereby helping to enhance mental wellness as well as reduce waste.”
Their beneficiaries would agree. “(The above) is the feedback we have heard from them so far – that receiving flowers not only brings a smile to their face, but it also encourages the recipients to reminisce about previous instances and share these memories with their family members, creating new and happy memories for all. This is particularly important for elderly people living in nursing homes, and those with dementia,” they claim.
“Personally, we also feel that flowers facilitate a reconnection with nature in today’s increasingly disconnected society.”
But wait… let’s go back to the issue of waste
Because if you think about it, where do all those flower arrangements go? 🤔
“It’s the main purpose of our venture, and why we want to work with flowers specifically: We saw the waste firsthand – beautiful, fresh flowers being dumped after a wedding right in front of our eyes!”
So if you happen to come across a bouquet or an arrangement at an event, why not grab the opportunity to repurpose them? Aside from helping Flower Power Singapore, here are Bandana and Sonia’s suggestions.
#1 Preserve them
Like what a child would do, “The most common way is to paste them on some hard card and press them in a book until they dry out,” describe the two.
“Now you have a beautiful handmade bookmark or card.”
#2 Hydrate them
“You can also keep the flowers and make them last longer by keeping them in ice water mixed with a splash of white vinegar,” they advise.
“If you’re more hardcore, you can even buy flower food, which is readily available at most florists. Make sure to change the water regularly and sort out the dead or dying flowers. Trimming the stem can also be helpful.”
#3 Pass them on!
“It’s the best way to keep the value of your bouquet, especially when you see flowers at big events. Chances are that they might be discarded afterwards.
“Repurposing is quite simple. All you have to do is sort out the dead and dying, remove the thorns (just a simple pair of scissors will do), and then put the flowers in a vase or in a bouquet with cotton and foil wrapped around the stem base.
“Pass them on to someone you love, and watch their faces light up.”
Playing favourites
All flowers are special, and they all add something unique to a bouquet.
Given that Bandana and Sonia come across all kinds of flowers, do they find themselves gravitating more towards certain blooms?
“We don’t have a preference (all flowers are equal to us!), but we do love orchids because they are quite sturdy and look great even after a week,” the two admit.
“This compared to roses, which are much more delicate and have a shorter life span but do smell amazing!
“And despite being comparatively small and fragile, baby’s breath is a great addition to any bouquet,” they maintain.
“But for us it is most important that our recipients recognise the flowers they receive, as this is more likely to trigger memories.”
Be your own florist
Confused about which flower matches well with which? Bandana and Sonia also give us tips on how to pick flowers and turn them into pretty arrangements and decorations.
“We don’t have a go-to guide per se, but our only criterion is to make it as beautiful as possible,” they reveal.
“We always use ourselves as a benchmark. Would we be thrilled to receive this bouquet? We often give our flowers to the elderly or the less fortunate, so we want to make sure that they receive the best possible bouquet so that it brightens up their day.
“Because we are repurposing flowers, we often don’t get much of a choice in what we receive. But we try to combine colours in a way that is aesthetically pleasing wherever possible.”
Hint, hint
So… when was the last time you received (and gave away) flowers?
“Despite it being a garden city, many Singaporeans do not have access to flowers on a daily basis and that makes receiving a bouquet particularly special,” the two point out.
Why not increase your chances and “save” some flowers today? It’ll make your recipient’s day (and yours too). And we bet they’ll remember both the flowers and your lovely gesture for quite a while.
To support Flower Power Singapore, click here or visit their Facebook page.