Flowers are some of the prettiest creations on Earth. It’s no wonder people either plant flowers or get one for themselves. With that said, have you wondered how long these flowers can go without water if you have a bunch of them at home or in your garden?
Flowers: Living Without Water
Plants, including flowers, need water to survive. Without water, flowers won’t be able to thrive and grow. If you are growing flowers in a garden, you should water them at least once a week.
However, what happens when these flowers are not getting water? How long will they last?
Flowers can generally go without water for about 7 to 10 days. While this might be true, some flowers might need water, more or less than others. Consider the following factors below if you want a better understanding of how long flowers can live without water:
Kind Of Flower
One of the very first things you should remember is that no two flowers are alike. If you are growing different species, you might look into what kind of flowers they are.
While they might be planted on the same soil, their needs might be different. Once you have an idea about the water requirement of your flowers, the easier it will be to manage their watering schedule.
When a particular flower is in season, it needs about an inch of water per week. However, some flowers might need more water. There are also some flowers that might not be as thirsty. These flowers can still bloom even without the need to water them constantly.
Take some flowering plants as an example. Some of these grow in dry conditions but can still survive without water for some time. Flowers like Bougainvillea don’t need watering weekly. They will still be fine even without being watered for about two to three weeks.
Temperature And Transpiration
If you are growing flowers, you might have noticed some changes that happen to your plants once the temperature rises. When the temperature is higher and warmer, it affects water evaporation.
It influences transpiration or the movement of water through different parts of the plant, including the flowers. During this process, the flowers lose moisture. When the flowers are losing moisture rather than gaining it, it creates some sort of water imbalance.
If this is the case, your flowers might need more water. If flowers lack moisture, they start wilting due to dehydration, and they can’t go on blooming without the need to water them. As a precaution, look out for your flowers during high-temperature days and check how they are doing. Once you water the flowers, they will be invigorated again.
Be also cautious of the temperature of the water you use for your flowers. Extreme water temperature can cause distress, especially if it’s too hot or too cold. It can easily damage the different parts of the flower. One of the most obvious signs using very hot water is when the flowers and leaves start wilting and drooping.
Humidity Level
Apart from rising temperatures, the level of relative humidity also plays a role in how long flowers can absorb water. They basically go hand in hand. Temperature and humidity play crucial roles in the preservation of a flower’s freshness.
The ability of a flower to absorb water decreases when the relative humidity is high. The flowers can’t store enough moisture, leaving them yearning for more water.
If you have noticed, people who grow flowers in greenhouses are so keen in managing and controlling the humidity level. They know that the relative humidity affects the flowers and their ability to soak water in.
Soil Type
The type of soil your flowers are planted has a correlation with how long plans can continue thriving without water. If you are considering investing in a flower garden, this is important.
The best soil type for your flowers depends on the species you are planting. You also want something that absorbs water well. When dealing with water absorbing soil, it’s easier for them to maintain or keep moisture locked in.
The water from the soil is then absorbed by the flowers through the roots. If there is ample moisture for the flowers, you don’t have to water it as often as possible.
While there are flowers that might not need water regularly, be generous with the ones that need them. It’s also perfectly okay to water the flowers less often, as long as you do so thoroughly.
Remember that overwatering the flowers is also as bad as not giving them enough water. If you aren’t sure if you are doing too much, try checking how moist the soil is.
Best Time To Water
Whether you believe it or not, the time of day to water your flower matters. Perhaps you should start watering your flowers in the morning as soon as possible! During the morning time, the flowers are in the best state to absorb water.
If it’s hydrated well enough, it can go about its business, even without water for the rest of the day. The soil can also take water in well. And when it is locked in moisture, it can provide hydration to the flowers whenever it’s needed.
If you water your flowers in the afternoon, you might have to do it later. When the temperature is high, the flowers won’t be able to absorb the water as well as you want.
Plant Flowers That Can Grow Without Water
It takes passion and dedication to be able to cultivate a flower garden. If that’s too much for you, you can always plant flowers in a pot or in a patch.
Regardless of where you plant these flowers, there are some responsibilities that go with them, especially when it comes to watering and maintaining them. However, there are plenty of flowers out there that can go without water for a period of time. Here are some that you should consider:
- Blanket Flower
- Bergenia
- Desert Rose
- Geranium
- Lantana
- Lavender
- Oleander
- Periwinkle
- Plumbago
- Statice
These are just some of the flowers that can go without water for days, unless the heat and dryness are too much. When it’s time for these flowers to get water, some of these species might require deep watering.
Take Oleander as an example. The water needs to soak at least 7 to 10 inches of the soil this flower is on. After the deep and thorough watering, you don’t have to do anything until three days after. Basically there is no need to water these flowers everyday.
How Long Can Cut Flowers Go Without Water?
If you have a bunch of cut flowers, they still need water, so they will be able to live longer. Cut flowers can go without water for about 8 hours or a day or two.
But there are some flowers like Calla, Gerbera, Iris, Peony and Tulip that can last for days without water even when they have been plucked from their roots. But after that, they might start looking dull, dry, and lifeless.
There are a couple of things you can do to extend the freshness of the flowers for a couple more hours or even days or weeks without using water. Try these hacks for your floral arrangements, so you can revel in their beauty a little bit more:
Paper Towel Method
If you don’t have a vase, you can try using a paper towel or thick tissue. It’s very easy to do. You can start by cutting or trimming the stem. Try clipping about an inch off the stem. And then right after that, wrap a water-soaked paper towel around the stem. It would keep the flowers moisturized.
While this method is not hard to do, there’s a bit of a downside. You might have to do this multiple times a day. It’s a quick solution until you have a vase or flower holder available.
Flowers Inside The Fridge
Your refrigerator will come in handy if you want to stop the flowers from wilting. Putting the flowers inside the fridge is something florists do. If it works for them, it’ll work for you!
Apparently the ideal or proper temperature and relative humidity generated by a refrigerator help flowers retain their moisture. The process of losing water slows down, leaving the flowers to live a little longer even without any water.
Ice, Ice, Baby
If you want to keep your flowers looking fresh for a couple of hours or so, you can use ice or cold water. If you have a bouquet or floral arrangement, you can add some ice cubes to the flower arrangement.
If the flowers come in a vase, you can use cold water. The ice or cold water will help keep moisture in for a few hours. Again this is a temporary solution that you can use.
Blooming Flowers Even Without Water
Water, without a doubt, is an essential substance in a flower’s life cycle. It’s best that you now know how long flowers can go without water and what you are dealing with, so you can let them flourish in all their glory a little longer than they can.