Now that we've made it to the 'May flowers' portion of the year, it's time to give our blooms the attention they deserve. Gardening is not nearly as fun when the April showers are threatening a dreaded warm-weather cold, so you can't be blamed for putting it off until now. But it should be majority sunny days from here on out, so we're pivoting our attention to greenery and florals for the foreseeable future.
Here's the thing, however: we don't all have a garden to tend to. No, many of us are city dwellers, meaning the only 'greenhouse' we can access is one we can fit on our windowsill. As a result, the only 'May flowers' we're enjoying are those we can buy at the grocery store or bodega. Sure, we can dream about blooming gardens, but until we drop the apartment living and acquiesce to the suburbs, a vase of blooms is as close as we're getting to a plant nursery of our own.
As such, it tracks that we'd want to keep these supermarket bouquets alive for as long as possible, if only to cosplay the joy and fulfillment that comes from tending to something that's not yourself. True home gardeners cultivate this feeling in spades (pun absolutely intended), but we metropolitan mavens deserve a bit of that, too. But other than always buying the longest lasting flowers, what's the solution?
Well, thanks to the geniuses on social media, we could be one step closer. If you didn't already know, it is best practice to trim the stems of your flowers before tossing them into a vase. This is because the end of a stem dies out after a flower is picked, meaning it's quite tough and dense by the time you buy the bouquet. A subtle trim freshens things up and ensures the flower can easily 'drink' all its necessary nutrients while on display in the vase.
However, it seems it's best to execute this trim while the stems of the flowers are already underwater — at least according to content creator and homes enthusiast Nicole Jaques.
Trimming a flower above water creates an air pocket within the stem, a blockage that might prevent the flower from absorbing nutrients, Nicole says. But if you cut your store-bought flowers when they're already underwater, you reduce the risk of air pockets, consequently prolonging your bouquet's lifespan by up to two weeks. Now that's a hack worth knowing.
You might disagree — we're sure there are lots of competing ideas out there — but we can't imagine something like this would hurt. Why not give it a try then? Our team certainly will be.
Chic plant pots
Price: $20
The checkered design is timeless for a reason. This 8"x8" pot would look equally as gorgeous on a windowsill or shelf as it would on, say, a bar cart or kitchen counter. It's also an unbeatable price, and if the customer reviews are any indication, you're getting a great bang for your buck.
Price: $65
Modern design marketplace and brand Areaware is a longtime Livingetc fave for unique contemporary design. Its Strata planter, seen above, is said to be inspired by Simone Brewster's first jewelry collection. The yellow colorway is almost reminiscent of a gold metal earring while still evoking an earthy vibe.
Price: $12.99
Scalloped edges are forever a playful touch. In this case, they elevate this tan plant pot from H&M, covered in a crackle glaze that adds a great texture to the otherwise sleek and smooth surface. For just $13, it's hard to beat!
Stylish and trendy garden tools
Price: $69
The best gardening tools are equal parts chic and functional. And luckily, luxury brand Garden Glory delivers both. For instance, its diamond-shaped watering can looks almost like a bracelet by design, while its long, sleek spot proves that practicality was certainly not an afterthought either.
Price: $19.95
Unless you're an expert home gardener, confusing your plants is not unheard of. Most of them are green, after all! Keep everything straight with these lovely hand-painted porcelain markers, which look to be dry-erase so long as you use the appropriate writing utensil.
Price: $16
Honey, I shrunk the gardening tools. A large spade and/or shovel is just too much for an inside garden, so perhaps this adorable set could do the trick. Featuring a mini shovel, mini trowel, and mini rake, this is the perfect $16 starter pack for harnessing your green thumb.
Perfect pruning shears
Price: $25
Have you ever tried cutting your supermarket flowers with paper scissors? It works, but it's quite difficult. Instead, we'd suggest investing in a quality pair of shears, like this stylish option from Rejuvenation. The wide handle is ergonomic and comfortable for left-handers and right-handers alike, while the stainless steel blades are resharpenable and rust-resistant.
Price: $28
Lightweight and versatile, these affordable shears scratch every possible itch (and look chic while doing it). The needle-nose tip, in particular, is supposed to make for easy pruning and harvesting. 'Sharp and adorable. Love them,' one customer wrote in a five-star review.
Price: $6.49
For more of a function-forward approach, you can't go wrong with these gardening scissors from VIVOSUN. We meant it; these are a tried and true option. They boast a 4.6/5-star customer rating across almost 60,000 reviews (quite the feat for Amazon), and more than 7,000 were purchased within the last month. Ready to make that 7,001?
At-home gardening hacks
Price: $18.99
Have you heard of a 'flower frog'? This nifty little contraption keeps the stems of your flowers in place so your beautiful arrangement doesn't fall apart in the vase. Plus, each frog is reusable and cheap. For the aspiring florist, this really is a must-buy!
Price: $32
Was: $35
Although they sound more whimsical and fantastical than practical, planter 'feet,' which keep a large plant pot off the ground, actually prevent root rot and promote proper drainage. We're loving the look of this teak set from Rejuvenation.
Price: $9.90
These 'claw gardening gloves' are not meant for Halloween or your next costume party; rather, they're for digging holes in your garden with an animal-like ease. Sure, you might feel a bit silly, but you'll get over it quickly once you see how much fun they are to use. They're particularly worthwhile in that they 'help you action a greater number of garden tasks without having to rely on tools like a hand rake or trowel,' says Livingetc editor Hugh Metcalf, who bought the gloves for himself back in March.
