Avoid Ethylene Sources

Ethylene is a colorless, odorless gas that plants produce naturally as part of the ripening process. For fruit, it's helpful — it triggers the softening and sweetening we want in a ripe banana or apple. For cut flowers, it's destructive.

Even small amounts of ethylene exposure cause petals to drop, colors to fade, and blooms to close prematurely. The effect compounds over time — the longer your flowers are near an ethylene source, the faster they decline.

The biggest culprits: bananas (one of the highest ethylene producers), apples, pears, avocados, and any overripe produce. Keep your flowers well away from the fruit bowl.

Other ethylene sources include cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, and propane or natural gas appliances. If you notice your flowers wilting unusually fast, consider whether there's an ethylene source nearby that you haven't accounted for.