How to Dispose of Dead Flowers: A guide

Have you ever received a bouquet of flowers as a gift and after a couple of days found yourself with an almost finished vase and no idea what to do with the wilted, discoloured stems? If the answer is yes, then you’re not alone.

Finding the right way to dispose of dead flowers can be tricky, especially because they do not decompose fast. While some people might be happy to get rid of them and others might have creative solutions in mind, there aren’t many straightforward ways to handle this situation.

So if you are also struggling with what to do with those withered stems, read on for some ideas on how to deal with dead flowers, in order to prevent any awkward situations in your future.

Related article: How to Keep Flowers Fresh Without Water

Why Dispose of Dead Flowers?

Dead flowers are a waste of resources. This is why it’s important for you to find ways to reuse or recycle your old floral arrangements. When we talk about dead flowers, we’re talking about plants that have already seen their time in the sun and have ceased to produce any more blooms.

They might still have some life left in them, though! Planting them into your garden or yard will not only help beautify the space but also give your plants a break from all that flower-producing work.

Flowers make us happy, so adding them to your garden can be beneficial for both you and your environment. Beyond using them as decoration for your home, there are plenty of other ways that you can re-purpose dead flowers before disposing of them.

For example, cut stems can be used as natural decorations for food at parties and restaurants, or as part of an arrangement for a special occasion like a wedding or birthday party.

When should I throw away flowers?

It’s usually best to throw away wilted flowers as soon as you can. Try to set up a system with your recipient so that the flowers are discarded before they get too old and mushy.

If you can’t do this, at least try to arrange for someone else to take care of this task, so you know that it will be done before the flowers have a chance to decay on their own.

How do you throw flowers?

One of the simplest ways to dispose of dead flowers is to cut an inch off the withering stems and let them sit in ice water. This will give you a few more days with the flowers. Just make sure to change the water every day.

After three days, throw away all remaining wilted petals and put a few inches of fresh water in the vase. It’s important not to leave any pollen or sap on your vases, as it can cause mold. You can also dry out dead flowers for decorative purposes.

Place them in a wire mesh dish and put them outside in the sun for two weeks. You can also use dried flowers in crafts like flower arrangements and bouquets, or create potpourri from them.

Make Art Out Of Your Rotting Bouquets

A great way to reuse your old flowers is by crafting them into art. You can use your flowers in a variety of ways, including:

• Potpourri -Centerpiece on your dinner table
• Creation of paper flower arrangements
• Candle decoration
• Creation of a wreath
• Gift wrap decoration

Throw them in the trash

Perhaps the easiest and most straightforward way to dispose of a bouquet is to throw them in the trash. This is also the cheapest, because you are not spending any money on new flowers or creative solutions.

But if you are feeling particularly sentimental about your dead flowers and would like to keep them around for a little longer, there are other ways to do this without having to spend money.

Organically Disposing of Dead Flowers

The easiest way to dispose of dead flowers is by leaving them in a vase or arranging them into an attractive bouquet. The flowers will dry out and eventually turn brown, but if you’re unworried about their appearance, this is a great way to save yourself the trouble of throwing them away.

Another option is to plant your old bouquet. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a garden, simply mix the wilted stems with soil and wait for new green shoots to appear.

Alternatively, take your wilted flowers and place them into a pot of dirt or soil; they’ll provide some much-needed nutrients and can look quite pretty as they decompose.

Burn them

If you have an outdoor space, or if you don’t mind the smell of burning plastic and flowers, then you can do a little DIY project with your wilted flowers. First, trim the stems as short as possible.

Then, tie each stem to a stick which is about one and a half times as tall as the stem. Put them in a shallow hole in your yard or on your deck and light them on fire. Of course, make sure that there’s a safe distance between the fire and anything flammable (furniture etc.).

Compost them.

Some people might think that throwing the flowers in the garbage is a solution, but if you have a compost pile or plan to start one, then there’s really no need to spend money on the garbage can.

By adding the old blooms to a compost pile, they will break down and later provide nutrients to your bed. If you don’t have a compost pile, then you could also dispose of the flowers in your garbage.

You could also use them as part of an art project or make fresh terrariums with them. There are many creative ways to reuse dead flowers. One idea is to make flower headbands for children and for adults.

You could also use old stems as hair accessories or decorate home furnishings with them. If you want to keep your gift alive for longer than two days, then why not turn it into something else?

It takes just a little creativity! A couple more suggestions include making fresh bouquets from cut flowers or dried ones, or using them as ingredients in a homemade seasoning recipe.

Recycle the plastic and cardboard vase.

If you’re one of the lucky few who actually received flowers in a pot, then this might be your best option. Simply cut off the stems, put them on top of the dirt and cover them with soil.

One way to deal with dead flowers is to recycle the plastic and cardboard vase. You can cut the vase into strips, tie them together, and hang them from a tree or your mailbox as decoration.

Another option is to use it as a decorative piece in your home. Either way, the dead flowers will have served their purpose and you won’t have to worry about finding ways to dispose of them.

Incorporate them in your garden

If you have a garden, this is the easiest way to get rid of those wilted stems. Simply break them up and sprinkle them on the ground around your plants to add some much-needed nutrients.

They will decompose quickly and provide valuable nutrients for your plants. If you want to be more precise about where you place the dead flowers, scatter them underneath shrubs or trees that grow well with other species.

They will decompose in time and serve as an excellent base for new plant growth in future years. Additionally, there are many budding gardeners who would appreciate a gift of dried up stems. Just break up the flowers and give away what remains.

Instead of throwing them in the garbage or compost heap, get creative and include these wilted stems in your garden bed. They are essentially organic matter, so they will decompose just as well as any other plant.

And if it turns out that they don’t decompose fast enough for your liking, then you can always just cut them up into less conspicuous chunks and spread them around the soil. This way is perfect if you have children who might be curious about what’s going on outdoors.

Use The Stems To Make Bouquets

If you have a bunch of old flowers that are dying on your countertop, why not turn them into a new bouquet? It’s a great way to reuse those petals, and it will keep the flowers out of landfill.

To make a bouquet, gather the dead flowers and snip the stems off at an angle just above where they meet the flower head. You should also remove any green leaves that are attached to the stem.

Tie together as many stems as will make a decent sized bouquet and tie with a ribbon or string if necessary. Now you have a beautiful bouquet made from your old flowers.

FAQS

Conclusion

Dead flowers are an unfortunate reality of the flower world. You can’t keep them forever, but you can make the most of them with a few simple steps. Organically Disposing of Dead Flowers: If you want to avoid chemicals, composting is a great way to turn your dead flowers into rich soil.

But if you don’t have a compost pile on hand, there other options. You can add them to your garden compost, or mix them in with your garden soil if you have a bagged compost.

If you can’t do either of these things, your other option is to find a local community garden or flower farm and drop your flowers off with them. Why Dispose of Dead Flowers? Nobody wants to think about death and decay when they send flowers, but it’s important to know what comes next.

Dead flowers are a potential source of plant diseases and they act as a food source for insects and rodents. Plus, as they rot they release ethylene gas which can cause other plants nearby to rot too. Make Art Out Of Your Rotting Bouquets:

You can also use your dead flowers to make some pretty cool art pieces. Flowers are a beautiful addition to any occasion. When they finally begin to wilt, it’s time to throw them away, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it in the traditional way.

Disposing of dead flowers can seem like a trivial task; after all, who really cares about what happens to them once they’ve been cropped? But when you receive a bunch of fresh-looking cut flowers from friends, family, or significant others on a regular basis, things start to get tricky.

Rather than throwing away perfectly good green stems and wilted petals every time you receive a bouquet, why not find out how best to dispose of dead flowers?

There are many ways in which you can reuse your old floral arrangements or leave them as an organic addition to your home. Whether it’s with these nifty ideas or by following our tips on how best to dispose of dead flowers.