Fresh flowers can be a real treat. Whether ordered from a florist or picked up on a whim from the gas station, keeping them as fresh as possible for as long as possible is always the goal.
But, how long can flowers last in a car? Flowers will typically last at peak freshness for 3-5 hours in a car. Although, the warmer your car is, the less time you will have until your flowers start to wilt and wither. Other factors, such as how much water they have and when they were last watered, will also play a key role in their preservation.
Read on to find out more about how to keep your fresh-cut flowers happy if you need them to stay in your car.
Can Flowers Last In The Car Overnight?
It is possible to keep flowers in your car overnight. How well they survive will depend on a few environmental factors – some of which you can control easily yourself.
Temperatures usually drop overnight, and you can use this to your advantage.
The hotter it is inside your car, the more strain it will put on your flowers.
So ensuring it is cool is incredibly important.
During the summer, even at night time, the temperature of your car may still be too hot to keep your flowers happy and healthy.
Cars are giant tin boxes, so even if it feels cool outside, your car may still be too warm inside.
Especially if all your windows are up and it was parked in the sun for a good part of the day.
The last thing you want to do is nip out to your car in the morning, only to find a bunch of droopy, sad-looking blooms.
So although they can survive in the car overnight, if you can keep them somewhere else, inside your home preferably, this will be better.
How Long Can Flowers Go Without Water In A Car?
Flowers will not last for very long in a car without water, 4-5 hours at most.
This is usually due to extreme heat or cold, and if your flowers are without water, and they can be very susceptible to wilt if they experience these extremes.
If you do have to keep your flowers in your car for an extended period, we highly recommend making sure your blooms have ample water to keep them going before you bring them inside.
How Long Does It Take For Flowers To Die In A Car?
Flowers will likely die if left for 1-2 days in a car. Although, it won’t take long for your flowers to show signs of stress, especially if they aren’t kept in water. Usually, they will lose their quality in as little as 3-4 hours.
That being said, flowers can be resilient, and with a lot of water and a little plant feed, usually, they are salvageable.
Within reason of course.
This is because fresh flowers are extremely sensitive to their environment.
And any that is not ideal, will fasten the process of decline, such as:
- If it is too hot
- If it is too cold
- Dry Air
- Extended periods with no sunlight
If you must keep your fresh flowers in your car, avoiding these hazards should be your main focus to keep them as fresh as you can.
How Do You Keep Flowers Fresh In A Hot Car?
Although your car isn’t the best place for you to store your flowers for much longer than a couple of hours, there are some things that you can do to keep your flowers fresher for longer if you have nowhere else to put them on warm days.
Such as:
- Leaving the car windows down
- Parking your car in the shade
- Providing plenty of water for your flowers
Leaving the windows down in your car will help cooler air to circulate, bringing the temperature down inside of your car.
This won’t work for very hot days, but for mild days this can work an absolute treat.
Also, if your car is parked in direct sunlight, the heat levels inside will rise quickly, killing your flowers very fast.
So parking in a shaded spot can also help keep the car cooler for longer.
Much like your flowers outside, flowers kept inside your car will need extra water if it’s too warm.
Hot flowers will be extra thirsty and may drink far more water than you anticipate.
You will also be battling evaporation in a very warm car. So not all the water that has disappeared from their container will have been utilized by your bunch of flowers.
*Using a foam sponge – a block of foam that holds water – to keep your flowers hydrated can also help them survive the heat of a warm car.
Some flowers are also a little more resilient when it comes to handling extra heat.
Some of our favorites are:
- Lisianthus
- Gerbera Daisies
- Some Roses (delicate petals = a delicate flower)
However, if your car is very hot, you shouldn’t keep your flowers in there.
Moving them to a cool but light spot is always preferred.
How Do You Keep Your Flowers Fresh In A Cold Car?
Extreme cold temperatures can be just as damaging to your flowers as extreme heat.
Some flowers will die very quickly in a cold car, especially if they have no protection.
The cold tolerance of flowers varies greatly, but if temperatures are reaching freezing, then very few flowers can survive that.
Some cold-sensitive flowers to avoid if you know your car is going to reach very low temperatures are:
- Begonia
- Impatiens
- Marigold
- Zinnia
If you know your car is going to be a little chilly while you store flowers there, it’s a great idea to use some of these tricks to keep them a little cozier and more protected.
- Covering them in garden fleece
- Covering them with a cloche
- Keeping them in a cardboard box
These methods will help to fend off the frosty air away from your flowers and keep them warm.
Depending on how cold it is, you may need to use more than one of these tricks to keep your flowers thriving while they are in your car.
Finally
Keeping flowers in your car isn’t the best way to keep your beautiful bunch of blooms thriving, but life gets in the way sometimes, and it may be the only place to keep them for a short while.
Being conscious of the temperature in your car and using methods that help keep your flowers happy can give you that extra time before they arrive at their forever home – preferably a vase with fresh water in a light but cool spot.
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