Flower Care
How to Take Care of the Flowers You’ve just had Delivered
Nothing is more wonderful than receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers from that special someone, but getting the most out of them and keeping them fresh can often be a difficult task. With the right care and attention, your flowers can last much longer, and we’ve put together some fantastic and easy tips as to how to do this.
Watering Your Fresh Flowers Correctly
When receiving fresh flowers it’s important to remember that they are still a living thing so will still require water. Even after they have been cut for a bouquet, they will continue to drink water, which is why it’s important to keep them in water all of the time. When the stems are exposed to air this can cause the cells that absorb water into the flowers to shrivel up and can then reduce the longevity of your flowers.
Utilising the food that is included with your bouquet of flowers, you should add this to the water as per the instructions on the packet. Fresh water, at room temperature, should be added to your bouquet along with this flower food. This will help to keep your floral bouquet vibrant and fresh for much longer.
If you do find that your flowers wilt, try submerging the entire stem of the flowers in warm water for around 10 minutes, and this should help bring them back to life. It isn’t recommended to use home remedies such as mouthwash, bleach, lemon-lime soda or aspirin as this could result in your flowers not lasting as long.
Cutting Your Stems Correctly
You should always cut the stems of your flowers at an angle as this will help their water uptake – flat cuts can prevent this. If you can, cut your stems diagonally (with a knife) every few days, re-cutting the stems of your fresh flowers. Try to do this under running water.
Some say that you should cut a stem vertically but this isn’t a scientifically proven statement and is a common misconception. In fact, cutting the stems in this way can hinder water uptake as it will destroy the structure of the cells and will cause increased bacteria growth.
When arranging your floral bouquet, remove any leaves that are going to be submerged under the water. If these are left on they can rot and produce bacteria, which will fundamentally affect the lifespan of your flowers.
Different types of flowers will bloom at different times, so carry out regular pruning to remove any of the dead ones. This will help to encourage the growth of new blossoms and you can even place them into a smaller vase as the bouquet reduces in size. Keep Flowers Away from Draughts Heat
Great exposure to sunlight and high temperatures can cause your flowers to mature quickly and will therefore reduce the time you can enjoy them for. Always place them in an area that is away from any droughts, direct sunlight and appliances that create heat.
Other Important Notes