There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your blooms look great for as long as possible.
Our blooms are cut and conditioned for at least 24hrs before they're made up in to bouquets but if we have haven't delivered them to you and theyve been out of water for any length of time or they're looking less than fresh due to heat or any other stressor, it may be wise to give them a drink and place them in a cool place overnight.
When you're ready to arrange your blooms just follow the tips below to keep them looking great for as long as possible.
1. A clean vase is key. Clean your vase thoroughly. I always recommend cleaning with thick bleach. A few suds left in the vase after cleaning will aid in killing any lingering bacteria which would otherwise make your flowers wilt faster
2. Fill the vase two-thirds full with fresh cold water. We dont supply flower food but you can use it if you so desire but we find our flowers last just as long without it.
3. Remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline to avoid build-up of debris. We usually do this for you anyway but if youre cutting them particularly short ensure no leaves are left on that would sit below the water line. If your flowers include roses, you may notice some discoloured outer petals. These are known as guard petals, which protect the inner petals and can be removed.
4. Re-cut your stems. Using sharp scissor or secateurs, trim about 2-3cm from the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle. We have already created a beautiful hand-tied bouquet for you but you may wish to rearrange your blooms and we recommend varying the length of your stems to give your arrangement a little variation.
5. Change the water regularly. I was always taught that you should complete a water change daily and you may wish to recut your stems to promote water uptake too. Cleaning your vase regularly too also helps reduce bacteria.
6. Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight, away from any heat sources and away from fruit to prolong their life. Heat, bright light and the ethylene produced from ripening fruit will drastically increase how quickly your flowers will go over.
7. Remove any wilted flowers. Besides not looking as attractive, they can cause fungus to spread throughout your bouquet.