Beyond the Penny Trick: Honest Advice for Caring for Your Blooms

First, a reminder: cut flowers are ephemeral.

They’re not meant to last forever—and that’s part of what makes them so special. Their fleeting beauty invites us to slow down, be present, and appreciate what we have while we have it. Then, it's time to compost! :)

We get asked all the time: what's the secret to making flowers last? From pennies to bleach to mysterious powders, there are plenty of "hacks" out there—but what actually works?

Let’s break it down:

Does the penny trick really work?
The jury is still out. The idea is that copper acts as a natural antimicrobial, keeping bacteria at bay. But here's the catch: only pennies minted before 1982 were made of 95% copper. Newer coins? Mostly zinc. So unless you're hoarding old pennies, the effectiveness is... questionable at best.

Should I put bleach in the water?
Bleach can help control bacteria, but it’s easy to overdo it—and too much can harm your flowers. If you go this route, just a few drops per quart of water is enough. But honestly? We don’t recommend it.

Our favorite method? Keep it simple.
Skip the additives and just change the water. Fresh, cool tap water is all your flowers really need. Swap it out every other day, and make sure the vase is clean. That’s it. No bleach, no copper, no mystery packets. Just water and a little consistency.

In fact, we don’t even send our floral orders with flower food. Why? Because we believe in keeping things natural, low-waste, and easy. Flowers are magical enough—they don’t need the extras.

Want more tips like this? Look for Monthly posts where we answer your top flower questions. If you have one that you want us to answer, please send us a note at hello@floragoodtimes.com.