How to Care for Your Flowers After Delivery
You've just received a beautiful bouquet – what now? A little love and attention after those first few days makes a huge difference to how long your flowers last and how happy they look throughout their life.
Here's our guide to getting the most from your flowers.
What type of bouquet have you received?
Depending on the type of bouquet you’ve received, you’ll need to either crack on straight away, or you can simply place your flowers as they are in a lovely spot and enjoy them for a few days before giving them attention.
If your bouquet isn’t in water, then start the steps below straight away as the stems will be a bit dry and thirsty.
If the flowers are in a bubble of water or in a vase, you can wait for a few days before doing anything since the stems will have been freshly trimmed and given flower-food water before being delivered to you.
If the flowers were bought from one of our retailers (for example Budgens or a local garage forecourt) and are in a bubble, then we recommend pouring some cool, fresh water down into the middle of the bubble to make sure it’s topped up.
In any case, if the flowers are already starting to look a little soft, it’s a good idea to start the below steps straight away.
Unwrap the flowers but keep them tied.
If your flowers are in a bubble, take them to the sink and snip a hole in the bubble to let the water out. Undo the bubble by carefully cutting through the tape/band holding it together. Take off the outer wrapping. Keep an eye out for a sachet of flower food taped to the inside. For our handtied bunches, keep the elastic band/tape around the bouquet stems to help keep its expertly arranged shape.
Trim the Stems – very important!
Using sharp scissors, trim about 2cm from the bottom of each stem, cutting at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area available to absorb water and removes any dried or sealed ends that would otherwise block the flower's ability to sip up that sweet, sweet flower food water. (Blunt scissors can crush the stem, hindering the water intake, so as sharp as you can find!)
Choose Your Vase and Water Carefully
Use a clean vase - any bacteria left from previous use will shorten the life of your flowers. Give it a quick rinse before adding fresh, cool water. Warm water encourages faster blooming, which is great if you want your flowers to open up quickly, while cool or room-temperature water helps them last longer.
Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline in the vase. Submerged leaves rot quickly, introducing bacteria into the water and shortening the life of the whole arrangement.
Use the Flower Food
If your bouquet came with a sachet of flower food - use it! It really does make a difference. Flower food contains a mix of sugar (which feeds the flowers), acidifier (which lowers the pH of the water, helping uptake), and a biocide (which keeps bacteria at bay). Simply dissolve it in the water according to the instructions.
If you don't have flower food, a small amount of sugar and a few drops of white vinegar or lemon juice in the water can work as a simple alternative.
Find the Right Spot for Them
Where you place your flowers has a big impact on how long they last. Choose a cool spot away from direct sunlight, radiators, and draughts. Central heating and direct sun both draw moisture out of the petals, causing them to wilt and fade much faster than they should.
It's also worth keeping flowers away from fruit bowls - ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which accelerates ageing in cut flowers.
Change the Water Every Two Days
Fresh water is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to extend the life of your arrangement. Every couple of days, pour out the old water, rinse the vase, re-trim the stems by a centimetre or so, and replace with fresh water. This removes the bacteria that naturally builds up and keeps your flowers drinking freely.
If the water starts to look cloudy or smell before that, change it straight away.
A Few Extra Tips Worth Knowing
For roses: If your rose heads are drooping, submerge the entire rose (leaves, stem and all) in a sink or bucket of cool water. Leave them for at least 30 minutes, re-cut the stems and hopefully they’ll be fresh and revived.
For tulips: These are thirsty flowers and drink a lot, so check the water level daily. They also continue to grow after cutting, so expect them to shift and lean a little as they open - it's all part of their charm.
For lilies: If any stamens have open anthers (the yellow pollen-covered parts in the centre of the flower), remove them carefully before the pollen drops. Lily pollen can stain clothing and surfaces, and can be dangerous to cats. To remove the pollen, pinch your fingers towards the base and gently pull the pollen away, catching the anthers in your hand.
Mixed bouquets: Daffodils and narcissi release a sap that can shorten the life of other flowers, so if you're mixing them with other blooms, it's best to condition them separately in their own water for 24 hours first before combining them in the vase.
We're Always Here if You Have Questions
If you're ever unsure about how to care for a particular flower or arrangement, just give us a call or pop into the studio - we're always happy to help. Every bouquet we create is made with care and we want you to enjoy it for as long as possible.
Kimberley's x
01934 263057
kimberleystheflorist.co.uk