A fresh bouquet is a lovely thing to receive, and with a little care it can stay beautiful for much longer. Most of what makes cut flowers last comes down to three things: clean water, fresh stem ends and a cool spot. Here is how our florists in Mississauga recommend caring for the flowers you receive, whether they arrive as a vase arrangement, a hand-tied bouquet or a box of loose stems.
When your flowers arrive
Unpack your flowers as soon as you can. If they came as a boxed or loose bunch, keep them somewhere cool until you are ready to put them in water, and get them into a vase quickly.
- Choose a clean vase. Wash it with warm, soapy water and rinse it well. Bacteria left in a vase from an earlier bouquet will shorten the life of new flowers.
- Fill it with fresh water. Use a deep vase so the stems have plenty of water to drink.
- Add flower food. If your flowers came with a packet of flower food, mix it in following the directions on the packet. Most packets are made for a pint or a quart of water. Do not add extra water beyond what the packet says, because a weaker mix does not work as well.
- Remove low leaves. Strip off any leaves that would sit below the waterline. Leaves under water break down and encourage bacteria, which can block the stems from taking up water.
- Cut the stems. With a sharp knife or a sharp pair of scissors, cut one to two inches off the bottom of each stem, then place the flowers straight into the water.
Why fresh cuts matter
A cut stem starts to seal itself over time, and the end can also become blocked by bacteria. When that happens, the flower cannot drink, and the petals start to droop even though the vase is full. A fresh cut opens the stem again. Use a sharp blade so you make a clean cut without crushing the stem. Crushed stems take up water poorly.
For woody stems and branches, such as lilac, forsythia or quince, use sharp pruning shears. Placing them in warm water with fresh flower food helps the blooms open.
Daily and weekly care
- Top up the water every day. Flowers drink more than you might expect, especially in the first few days. Keep the vase filled. For an arrangement in floral foam, keep the foam soaked.
- Change the water when it turns cloudy. Cloudy or murky water is a sign of bacteria. Pour it out, rinse the vase and refill it with fresh water and flower food.
- Re-cut the stems every few days. Each time you change the water, trim another one to two inches from the stems with a sharp blade, taking care not to crush them.
- Remove fading flowers. Take out any blooms that have wilted so they do not shorten the life of the rest of the bouquet. Pull off any yellow or spotted leaves too.
Where to put your flowers
Where you place a bouquet makes a real difference. Flowers last longest in a cool spot, away from:
- direct sunlight, including a sunny windowsill
- heating and cooling vents, radiators and fireplaces
- ceiling fans and strong drafts
- bowls of ripening fruit, which give off a gas that speeds up wilting
In a Canadian winter, homes can be warm and dry, so a spot away from the furnace vent is especially important. Some people move their bouquet to a cooler room overnight to help it last.
Caring for different types of flowers
Roses. Roses are thirsty, so check the water level often. If a rose head droops early, re-cut the stem under water and give it a long drink. You can browse our rose bouquets for every occasion.
Lilies. As lilies open, you can gently remove the pollen-covered anthers with a tissue. This keeps pollen off the petals, tablecloths and clothes.
Tulips. Tulips keep growing and bend toward the light after they are cut, so turn the vase now and then to keep them standing tall.
Orchids and plants. A potted orchid or plant is not a cut flower and needs different care. Water it lightly, let excess water drain, and keep it in bright, indirect light. If you want something that lasts for weeks, our potted plants and succulents are an easy choice.
Choosing flowers that last
When you choose flowers yourself, look for firm, upright petals and buds that are just beginning to open. They will open over the next few days and give you a longer display. Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are signs that flowers are past their best.
For a gift that lasts even longer, consider our long-lasting dried and fresh florist designs, which combine dried and fresh stems.
Quick checklist
- Clean vase, fresh water and flower food mixed as directed
- No leaves below the waterline
- Stems cut one to two inches with a sharp blade
- Water topped up daily and changed when cloudy
- A cool spot, away from sun, vents, fans and fruit
For the short version of these tips, see our flower care page. If you have a question about a bouquet you received from us, call our studio at 905-677-9999 and our florists will be happy to help.