Wilted flower is a flower that has died or dried because of lack of sunlight and water. It is the opposite of a beautiful and vibrant flower. A flower when it wilts it bends downwards or droops towards the ground signifying its tired or weak.
Wilting means when non-woody parts of plants loose their rigidity. The dehydrated cells in the stems and leaves find it difficult to remain erect, and ultimately the plant begins to wilt. This generally occurs when the turgor pressure falls towards zero in non-lignified plants because of lack of water. The rate at which the plant looses water is greater than absorption of water.
Loss of water may happen due to several reasons. Drought conditions where the moisture in the soil drops and it is unfavorable for the plant. Increase in salinity which leads water to diffuse form the plant and causes the plant to shrink. Clogging of the vascular system of the plant due to bacteria or fungi. Saturation in soil, where the plant s not able to obtain enough oxygen for cellular respiration and so water is not transported to the plant. And lastly, fall in the temperature where the vascular system of the plant stops functioning. All these reasons lead to loss of water and the flower to wilt. Wilting in a plant reduces the ability of the plant to grow and transpire. Permanent wilting can lead to the plant dying.
There are no specific areas or regions where you can find wilted flowers. Any regions which has lack of water or unfavorable conditions for the plant to grow and blossom will lead to wilting. However, there are ways to prevent wilting if you take care of your plant. Provide enough water, sunlight, manure and keep the soil moisture for a healthy growing plant.
While there is no specific scientific name for a wilted flower, individual flowers have their own scientific names. For example Rosa is the scientific name for a Rose. Lilium is the scientific name for a lily.
What do wilted flowers symbolize?
Flowers connote various meaning and symbolizes passions, friendship, love, joy, purity, blessing etc in different cultures and legends. Flowers are also associated with pleasure, beauty, novelty and youth. But as these beautiful blooms begins to wilt or die they symbolize fragility, the end of life and moving towards death. Wilted flower also means losing strength, assurance, vitality, the motivation to live and work hard. In many cultures wilted flowers is never kept at home and immediately removed as it attracts negative energy.
It is a popular belief that a flower looses its “chi” when it dries or wilts. A wilted flowering plant when kept at home can drain the house of its vigour and vitality. Because these flowers were earlier alive but have died due to lack of care and unsuitable conditions. Wilted flower means death and decay. The same is believed for plastic flowers as in feng shui plastic is associated with something which has died and thus it attracts negative energy.
Its also a common phenomenon to dream of flowers. Dreaming of flowers is considered to be a good sign. It is associated with happiness, joy and positivity. But when you dream of a wilted flower it denotes bad luck and disappointment or a warning for a difficult period in life. It can also mean an end of a relationship or career.
But wilted flower is not always associated with negativity and sadness. When a wilted flower is dried and placed on an alter it symbolizes something dear to you. It attracts and preserves positive energy. Wilted flowers are now a popular option to be given as gift for weddings and birthdays. A bouquet of wilted flower looks beautiful. It symbolizes longevity as the beauty of the flowers can be preserved for a longer time.
What do the various colors of the wilted flower mean?
Wilted red flower meaning: The color red signifies love, friendship, passion, desire. It also represents joy, happiness and is generally gifted or used for happy occasions like wedding, birthdays or any important function. But a red wilted flower means heartbreak, end of a relationship, the love is over or signifying that someone would rather die. While a beautiful red blossomed flower like a red rose is associated with positivity, vibrancy and cheer a withered red flower means pain and sadness.
Wilted white flower meaning: White stands for purity, peace, and unadulterated beauty. A wilted white rose may mean fleeting beauty or a person who made no impression at all.
Wilted yellow flower meaning: The yellow wilted flower in many cultures stands for enlightenment, bright future, abundance and sunshine.
Wilted Orange flower meaning: Wilted orange flowers in many cultures symbolize festivities. In other cultures they represent a guiding path for souls who have passed away.
Here are some interesting things that you can do after your flowers start wilting.
As we know, the life of a flower is finite. The life of a flower depends on the variety and the genus of the plant. But most flowers stay fresh only for a day or two. But that does not mean you cannot make the most of these flowers after they have started wilting.
a) Potpourri:
Some flowers make for the ideal homemade potpourri. Once they start wilting pick out the petals and dry them. You can then make your own concoction of fragrant leaves, spices and barks, along with the petals and decorate your home. These not only look very good but also smell amazing. You can mix and match a variety of wilting flowers and create a plethora of olfactory pleasures.
b) Crafts:
If you are a lot into arts and crafts then you can put your wilting flowers to amazing use. You can simply press the petals under a heavy book or any other flat object and extend the life and the beauty of the flowers. One consideration though is this pressing of flowers works best if you choose to do so just before they start wilting. You must also ensure there is no moisture in the petals before you start pressing it.
c) Home care:
Some flowers have this amazing ability to improve your skin and make them glow. A prime example of this is a Rose. While fresh roses provide aesthetic nourishment, wilting roses can be used to make wonderful Rose water. Rose water can help soothe and moisturize your skin.
d) Composting:
If you have a home garden, wilting flowers make for wonderful compost. Flowers contain a lot of nutrients and they also decompose very fast. This makes them an ideal material to be used for composting. You can also remove the petals and use them for potpourri or for pressing and use the rest for composting.
Some interesting facts and characteristics about wilting flower:
In Victorian times, leaves and flowers that retained fragrance were preserved and used as perfumes to adorn the homes. Rose petals were scattered on the floor and white cloth and containers were filled with dried flowers to freshen drawers and cabinets.
Dried flowers are growing in popularity in urban times and many florists keep dried flower bouquet as they are a popular gift option. Many commercial nurseries are also growing flowers just to dry them and sell them as an option to fresh flowers.
Some plants wilt in the night and this phenomenon is called nyctinasty. Leaves of many plants have joint like growths which is called pulvini. As a result of this the leaves wilt during darkness.
Best time to gift someone wilted flowers
Wilted flowers have an advantage over live flowers because they are all dried and therefore they have a longer life. Wilted flowers are often used for home decorations or to beautify the house. Real flowers are more expensive so many people prefer gifting wilted or dried flowers. It has been a trend now to gift wilted flowers because of their vintage color, easy to care and they also look attractive.
House warming:
You can gift wilted flowers to a friend or relative for house warming. Wilted flowers look great as part of home decoration. For example, dried osmanthus flowers can be given as a gift as home decorations and natural room fragrances. They come in various colors as well like orange, yellow and white.
Christmas:
Beautiful wreaths can be made from wilted flowers. You can even add a ribbon, bow and bells to make it more attractive. Make a handmade wreath for your friend or a loved one and gift it during Christmas. We are sure they will love to use it as a beautiful decoration on their fire place or on their doors.
Birthday or anniversary:
Want to gift something unique and different? Why not gift wilted flowers to that special someone? Wilted flowers will last long and a bouquet of wilted flowers also look attractive. If you are creative enough, you can create beautiful art pieces in a clear frame by displaying pressed flowers. Your loved one will surely admire your creativity and thoughtfulness.
Whether it’s a fresh flower or a wilted flower, beauty exists in both and both look charming. Use the form of the flower that best suits your purpose.
