Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

1 Cut flowers can last a week or longer. Florists use simple tricks and techniques, called conditioning, to strengthen and add vitality to flowers before composing arrangements. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

2 To cut and properly prepare any kind of stem, keep on hand these essential tools: a sharp knife, scissors or garden shears, pruners, and a hammer -- useful for fraying thick, woody stems, especially those of early spring's flowering branches. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

3 Cut stems at a forty-five-degree angle. This keeps stems from sitting flat in the vase and creates a large surface area, so that as much water as possible will be absorbed. Use sharp clippers or shears for woody stems, and sharp scissors or knives for other flowers. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

4 After cutting stems, remove any leaves or foliage that would otherwise sit under the water line in the vase. Leaves rot when submerged and will contribute to bacteria and algae in the container, which would shorten the life of the blooms. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

5 Flowers with hollow stems need to stay full of water. After pouring water into the stem, either plug it with cotton balls or put your finger over the bottom to keep the water in, put the flower in a vase, then remove your finger when stem is under water. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

6 Woody-stemmed flowers, like branches of flowering trees, should be split vertically, about an inch or two up the stem, so more water can be drawn. If the stem is very thick, smash the bottom few inches with a hammer until it is frayed. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

7 When preparing to arrange flowers that grow from bulbs, cut off the firm white portion at the bottom of the stem. If you do not remove this thickened tissue, the flower will have difficulty drawing water up its stem. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

8 Most florists say that if a flower exudes a milky substance from its stem, the stem should be dipped in boiling water for thirty seconds or seared with a match to keep the flower from losing nutrients. It will draw water through the sides of the stem. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

9 When conditioning carnations, as well as baby's breath and sweet william, be sure to make your cut just above one of the nodes that run up the flower's stalk. This will allow the stem to more easily draw the water it needs. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

10 The pollen in the stamens of a lily, if brushed on your clothing or your furniture, will leave a stain. Carefully remove the stamens with a tissue or snip them with manicure scissors before putting the flowers in vases. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

11 If you buy roses from a florist, they probably will have already been shorn of their thorns. At home, it is best to pare them with a sharp knife, working from the top down, because it puts less stress on the stem. Or use a stem stripper. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

12 If flowers look limp, submerge them in a bath of cool water, and cover the stems with a towel. They will absorb water through their pores, helping them plump and revive. To keep them submerged, tie them together and attach an anchor, like fishing weights. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

13 Wrap tulips in brown paper or newspaper, secure with twine or a rubber band, and place them in water overnight to keep them from drooping before you arrange them. This works well with any flowers that have a tendency to sway and fall. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)

14 If tulips appear to be failing sooner than expected, try this: insert a pin through the stem just below the head of the flower, then pull it out. The tiny hole will allow air to escape, expediting the flow of water. (The Best of Martha Stewart Living -- Arranging Flowers)