Fresh flowers can last noticeably longer with a little simple care. Whether you have received a hand-tied bouquet, a vase arrangement or flowers delivered as a gift, the right water, temperature and trimming can make a real difference.
This flower care guide explains how to look after fresh cut flowers at home, how often to change the water, where to place your bouquet and what to do if individual stems begin to fade.
How To Care For Fresh Flowers
When your flowers arrive, it is best to give them some attention before placing them on display. Even a freshly arranged bouquet will benefit from clean water and a suitable position in the room.
1. Use A Clean Vase
Before adding your flowers, wash the vase thoroughly with warm water. A clean vase helps reduce bacteria in the water, which can block the stems and shorten the life of cut flowers.
If you are reusing a vase, make sure there is no residue left from a previous bouquet.
2. Trim The Stems
Trim a small amount from the bottom of each stem before placing the flowers in water. Cutting the stems at an angle increases the surface area available to absorb water and helps prevent the base of the stem from sitting flat against the bottom of the vase.
Use a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors. Avoid crushing or tearing the stems, as this can make it more difficult for the flowers to take up water.
3. Remove Leaves Below The Water Line
Any leaves that would sit beneath the surface of the water should be removed. Leaves left underwater can begin to break down and encourage bacterial growth.
Keep the foliage above the water line wherever possible, while leaving enough greenery to preserve the natural shape of the bouquet.
4. Add Fresh Water
Fill the vase with fresh, clean water. If flower food has been supplied with your bouquet, follow the instructions on the packet before adding the flowers.
Different flowers have slightly different water requirements, but for a mixed bouquet a clean vase with a good supply of fresh water is the best starting point.
How Often Should You Change Flower Water?
Change the water regularly rather than simply topping it up indefinitely. Fresh water helps reduce bacteria and keeps the stems better able to absorb moisture.
As a general guide, changing the water every couple of days works well for most cut flower arrangements. If the water becomes cloudy, develops an odour or contains fallen leaves or petals, replace it sooner.
When changing the water, give the vase a quick rinse and trim a small amount from the stems again if needed.
Where Should You Put Fresh Flowers?
Flowers generally last longer in a cool, comfortable part of the room.
Avoid placing your bouquet:
- In strong direct sunlight
- Beside radiators or heaters
- Directly under air conditioning or strong draughts
- Beside open fires
- On very warm windowsills
- Beside bowls of ripening fruit
Heat encourages flowers to lose moisture more quickly, while strong sunlight can cause some petals and foliage to fade or wilt sooner.
Why Should Flowers Be Kept Away From Fruit?
Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas naturally. Some cut flowers are sensitive to ethylene, which can encourage petals to age and flowers to fade more quickly.
For this reason, it is better to display fresh flowers away from fruit bowls, particularly in warm kitchens.
- Use a clean vase
- Trim stems before placing them in water
- Remove leaves below the water line
- Change the water regularly
- Keep flowers somewhere cool
- Direct sunlight
- Radiators and strong heat
- Dirty or cloudy water
- Leaving fallen leaves in the vase
- Placing flowers beside ripening fruit
How To Care For A Hand-Tied Bouquet
If your flowers arrive as a hand-tied bouquet, carefully remove the outer wrapping before placing them in a clean vase, unless the arrangement has specifically been designed to remain in its presentation packaging.
Keep the tie around the stems if you would like the bouquet to retain the florist's original shape. You can also remove it if you prefer to rearrange the flowers yourself.
Trim the stems, remove any foliage that would sit below the water and place the bouquet into fresh water as soon as reasonably possible.
How To Care For Flowers Delivered In Water
Some bouquets may arrive with the stems temporarily supported by water for delivery. This helps protect the flowers while they are travelling, but it is not intended to replace a vase for long-term display.
Remove the delivery packaging carefully, trim the stems and transfer the flowers into a clean vase with fresh water.
How To Care For Vase Arrangements
If your flowers arrive already arranged in a vase, they can usually be displayed straight away.
Check the water level regularly and add fresh water when needed. Where practical, completely replace the water every few days rather than continually topping it up.
Remove any fading flowers or leaves as the arrangement develops. This helps keep the remaining flowers looking fresh and prevents deteriorating plant material from sitting in the water.
How To Care For Flower Baskets And Arrangements In Floral Foam
Flower baskets and some other arrangements may be created using floral foam rather than a vase of water.
The foam needs to remain moist to keep the flowers hydrated. Add a small amount of fresh water carefully to the centre of the arrangement each day or whenever the foam begins to feel dry.
Pour slowly and avoid overfilling the container. Keep the arrangement on a surface that will not be damaged if a small amount of water spills.
Should You Remove Wilting Flowers?
Yes. It is completely normal for different flowers in a mixed bouquet to age at different rates.
If an individual stem begins to wilt or fade before the others, remove it from the arrangement. This keeps the bouquet looking fresher and prevents fallen petals or leaves from contaminating the water.
You can often continue enjoying the remaining flowers for several more days.
Why Are My Flowers Drooping?
Flowers can droop for several reasons, including dehydration, heat, blocked stems or simply reaching the natural end of their vase life.
If relatively fresh flowers begin to droop, try:
- Replacing the water with clean, fresh water
- Washing the vase
- Re-trimming the stems
- Removing damaged leaves or petals
- Moving the arrangement to a cooler location
Some flower varieties naturally have softer stems or a more relaxed shape, so a slight bend does not always mean the flower is unhealthy.
How Long Do Fresh Flowers Last?
There is no single vase life for all flowers. Different varieties naturally last for different lengths of time, and temperature, water quality and care all play a part.
Some flowers in a mixed bouquet may fade sooner than others. Good flower care helps you get the best possible life from the arrangement, but fresh flowers are a natural product and cannot be expected to last for an exact number of days.
Do Roses Need Special Care?
Roses benefit from the same basic principles as other cut flowers: clean water, freshly trimmed stems and a position away from excessive heat.
Make sure no leaves are sitting below the water line and check the water level regularly, as roses can drink a surprising amount.
If the outer petals appear slightly darker or more textured, these may be protective outer petals rather than damaged flowers. Florists sometimes leave these in place to protect the more delicate petals inside during handling and delivery.
Do Lilies Need Special Care?
Lilies usually open gradually after delivery, which means an arrangement containing closed lily buds can continue to develop over several days.
As the flowers open, the pollen-producing anthers can be carefully removed if desired. Lily pollen can stain clothing, fabrics and furniture, so avoid brushing it onto surrounding surfaces.
If pollen does fall onto fabric, avoid rubbing it in. Gently lift loose pollen away instead.
What Should I Do With Flowers When I Go Away?
If you will only be away briefly, place the flowers somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Change the water before leaving and remove any stems that are already beginning to fade.
A cooler environment will generally slow the rate at which cut flowers lose moisture.
Fresh Flowers Are Always Changing
Part of the charm of fresh flowers is that an arrangement changes from day to day. Buds open, colours soften and different flowers reach their best at different times.
With clean water, regular trimming and a little attention, you can help your Blooming Flowers arrangement remain fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible.
If you have a question about caring for a particular arrangement, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
