How to care for your fresh flower bouquet
A vase of fresh flowers is one of life’s pleasures – lifting and refreshing rooms and moods in an instant. Whether it’s a bouquet you have been lucky to receive, an arrangement you have treated yourself to (and, why not!) or flowers cut straight from the garden, how you care for fresh flowers impacts their lifespan.
To help you get the most enjoyment from your glorious flowers, here are 5 simple tips to keep your flowers fresh:
Use a clean vase or container
It’s important to clean your vase before and after each use. A clean container reduces the risk of contamination of bacteria and other microorganisms from previous flower arrangements. It’s best to use a dark glass or ceramic vase, especially if you plan to place the flowers in a sunny position. The bacteria thrive in sunlight and increase the rate of stem decay.
Prepare the stems
Cut flowers last longer when the stems have been prepared correctly for display. How do you prepare fresh flowers for a vase? Trim around a quarter of an inch from the stem end at a 45-degree angle; this helps them to take up water quickly. Always use sharp scissors or a knife so you don’t crush the stems, and for best results, cut them underwater in the sink – this stops air getting into the flower’s veins.
Be mindful to remove any foliage, leaves or vegetation from the stems that will be below the water level of the vase. This reduces the risk of excessive bacteria causing your flowers to wilt.
Change the water daily
There’s nothing quite like the funky smell of stale stagnant water, rotting vegetation is not pleasant, and nor does it help your fresh flowers thrive. Change the water daily to flush out the bacteria and remove any fallen leaves. Try to avoid using cold water straight from the tap. Leave water to one side for it to reach room temperature and to allow the larger air bubbles to escape.
Choose a suitable location
Of course you want to showcase your beautiful flowers, especially if you have been showered with romantic roses, but you do have to be selective about where you place them.
Flowers do not like extreme conditions, so choose a location for your fresh flowers that is away from your HVAC units, sunlight or drafts from doors or windows. Heat and drafts cause flowers to transpire more water than they can pull up their stem so they wilt or brown at the edge. Ideally you should position your flower arrangement in a cool location out of direct sunlight to help preserve their beauty.
Use flower food
There are many myths and old wives’ tales about how to keep flowers fresh. Give them lemonade, an aspirin, add bleach or a copper penny; however, while these folklores are based on good intention, they fail to give the best combination of key ingredients. All Court Florist flower deliveries include a sachet of high-quality plant food to sustain the life of the flowers, just make sure you dissolve it with a quick stir.
At Court Florist our day starts early; we hand select the flowers from local markets and growers and choose only the freshest and most beautiful flowers for the day’s orders. Attention to quality and detail has earnt us our reputation as the best florist in Christchurch, and our customers enjoy their long-lasting fresh flowers as a result. If you are looking for advice about fresh flowers for an occasion or even our same day flower delivery (Christchurch), please do get in touch, we are more than happy to discuss your floral needs.
