WITH flowers in full bloom this season, there is no better way to brighten up a home than with a fresh bouquet.
But those beautiful bunches can quickly wilt.
Extend your flowers’ life and keep their beauty around for longer with these cheap and easy tips.
TAKE A CUT: Before you plunge the flowers into water, cut stems at an angle.
This will help the flowers absorb water more easily, says Mohammad Khan of prestigeflowers.co.uk.
KEEP IT CLEAN: Make sure your vase is clean and free of any bacteria or dirt that could cause the flowers to wilt fast.
Replace the water every two days, and make sure it’s at room temperature.
FEED YOUR FLOWERS: Do use the flower food that often comes with a fresh bouquet you have bought.
If you don’t have one, you can mix a tablespoon of sugar with the water in your vase.
Mohammed says: “The sugar will act as a source of food for the flowers, helping them to stay healthy.”
Alternatively, you could try crushing an aspirin tablet and adding it to the water in the vase.
He adds: “The salicylic acid in the aspirin will help the flowers stay fresh.”
FEND OFF FUNGI: Do you sometimes find that your flowers quickly go mouldy?
Drop a penny or two into the bottom of your vase. “The copper in the pennies will act as a natural fungicide and help keep your blooms looking vibrant,” says Mohammad.
HAIR-RAISING TIP: If you have a can of hairspray handy, give your flowers a quick spritz with it before placing them in the vase.
This is said to help the petals retain their moisture.
Also, avoid placing them in direct sunlight or near a radiator or oven.
They will stay fresh for longer in a cool, shady spot.
YOUNG children can explore the senses with a VTech Smellephant, one of the items in the Smyths Toys half-price sale.
Now £17.49, down from £34.99.
SAVE: £17.50
A COLOUR-IN ice cream van is half-price at Hobbycraft.
Now £10, along with others in the colouring range.
SAVE: £10
BUILD up the Easter excitement at The Entertainer.
Between 2pm and 4pm today, Lego fans can build their own Easter Egg, DOTS Egg or Robot Rabbit from the bricks provided, before taking their creation home.
Find out more at thetoyshop.com/store-events.
FOR busy floors, the jute circle rug is £119 from Dunelm, while the hole-patterned jute rug, from H&M Home, is £79.99.
SAVE: £39.01
TUCK into a Marks & Spencer Easter family dine-in meal for £20, including one main course and three side dishes.
You can choose from 15 items on the menu, which is available until Monday, saving up to £8.
GET a breakfast bargain with a 48-pack of Weetabix, down from £5.49 to £4.25 at Asda.
SAVE: £1.24
BRIGHTEN your border with Ronseal One Coat Fence Life paint, now half-price at Wilko.
Down from £12 to £6.
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