Yes, you can put many types of cut flowers in the fridge, and it’s actually one of the best ways to keep them fresh longer—if you do it correctly and avoid a few common mistakes.

Quick Scoop: Is the fridge safe for flowers?

  • For most typical bouquet flowers (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies), a normal fridge set around 1–5°C / 35–41°F can help them last longer.
  • Some flowers (tropicals like orchids, anthuriums, birds of paradise) can be damaged if it’s too cold (below about 7–10°C / 45–50°F), so they’re better at slightly warmer, “cool room” conditions than a food fridge.
  • Never put flowers in the freezer: freezing ruptures their cells and ruins them.

How to safely put flowers in the fridge

1. Prep the flowers first

  • Re‑cut stems at an angle with sharp scissors or pruners.
  • Remove leaves that would sit below the water line (they rot fast and grow bacteria).
  • Put the stems in clean water with commercial flower food if you have it, and let them drink at room temperature for 1–2 hours before chilling.

2. Set up the fridge

  • Ideal temperature: roughly 1–5°C / 35–41°F for most hardy cut flowers.
  • Keep them away from the back wall or very cold spots to avoid freezing or “black” chilling damage.
  • Don’t use the crisper drawer; it’s often too cold and has weird humidity pockets.

3. Protect from food and odors

  • Keep flowers away from fruits like apples, bananas, avocados that release ethylene gas and make flowers age faster.
  • Avoid strong‑smelling foods (onions, leftovers) that can transfer odor to petals.
  • You can loosely cover the bouquet with a ventilated plastic bag (a few small holes) to keep humidity high without trapping mold.

How long can flowers stay in the fridge?

  • Hardy flowers (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums): often 7–10 days or more with good care.
  • Medium‑delicate (lilies, tulips, ranunculus): usually a few days to a week; they still slowly develop in the cold.
  • Very delicate or tropical types: better for short stints in cool, not cold, conditions and often shouldn’t go in a standard fridge at all.

Many florists do exactly what you’re thinking: store event bouquets overnight in a cool or refrigerated space so they look fresh the next day.

Simple checklist before you chill

  • Water changed, stems freshly cut, extra leaves removed?
  • Temperature around 1–5°C / 35–41°F, not freezing?
  • No fruits on the same shelf, no strong odors?
  • Bouquet loosely covered or at least not touching cold walls?

If you follow those points, putting flowers in the fridge is not only okay—it’s one of the most effective ways to keep them looking fresh for your event or for the week.

Note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.