Supermarket flowers are known to die within a few days, but there is a very easy task you can do to keep them looking bright and fresh for much longer15:24, 24 May 2026Fresh flowers are one of the simplest ways to brighten up a home, and during spring they tend to be remarkably affordable, allowing you to liven up any room without breaking the bank. That said, cut flowers are notorious for their brief lifespan, and it can be thoroughly frustrating to arrange them in a vase only to watch them wilt and die within days.‌After spotting a bargain bunch at my local supermarket, I snapped them up and did a bit of digging to find out how to keep them looking their best for as long as possible. What I found was surprising — the secret to longer-lasting flowers has nothing to do with gardening hacks. You simply need to take a moment to move them away from the windowsill.‌Most people assume that all plants crave sunlight and instinctively place them by a window, but cut flowers actually fare far better when kept elsewhere.‌Why should you keep flowers away from windows?Cut flowers in vases are extremely sensitive to heat, and positioning them near windows causes the petals to dry out within just a day or two.A warm windowsill draws moisture out from the leaves, leaving the plant unable to hydrate itself in the same way a rooted houseplant would.‌Once the leaves begin to struggle, the foliage lacks sufficient energy to carry water up to the bloom, causing it to wither and shrivel.Sunlight will also warm the water in the vase, placing the plant under stress and creating the ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply.The cut stem is extremely vulnerable to bacteria, which can block the foliage and stop water from being taken up by the flowers, resulting in them drying out.‌How to make vase flowers last longerSimply position a vase near a window where it can receive some light, but avoid placing it directly on the windowsill so it isn't pressed against the glass.Through trial and error, I've found that the ideal spot for vases in a home is in a room close to an east or north-facing window.‌These windows provide soft morning sunlight that plants thrive on, while becoming shadier during the afternoon so the plants are shielded from the day's most intense heat.I prefer keeping my vases on my kitchen table as it maintains a good distance from the window and is also close to a sink, making it incredibly convenient to top them up when they need more water.That said, exercise caution if you keep flowers or any houseplants in a kitchen, as I discovered through experience, they should never be positioned near a fruit bowl.‌It may sound peculiar, but certain fruits like bananas and apples emit a gas that aids their ripening, yet it impacts all plants and will cause any cut flowers to wilt far more quickly.Ensure you also keep flowers in a cool part of your home, as any warm spot will cause the plants to lose moisture and generate more bacteria in the vase.Article continues belowI purchased three bouquets of flowers for under £5, and over a week later, they still look gorgeous, and I've barely lifted a finger to keep them alive.Changing the water every two days has helped keep bacteria at bay, but simply relocating the blooms away from a windowsill appears to have been the most effective way to keep the flowers fresh.It took no more than 10 seconds of effort, yet after 10 days all the cut flowers are still thriving, making it exceptional value for money.