Whether or not you have received a surprise delivery of flowers, or purchased them yourself, once you have your flowers home, your challenge is to keep them looking fresh and smelling fragrant for longer. It is possible to extend the vase life of Fresh flowers by giving them a good level of care.
The length of the vase life of flowers is dependent on varying factors such as the flower species, the environment, climate, seasons and good handling care may affect the vase life. In general, the vase life of soft flowers is 4 -10 days whereas the hardier types for example, Australian Natives may stay fresh for to 2 – 3 weeks and may then be dried.
Fresh Flower Care Tips for Newly Delivered Flowers
· If the flowers do not have a water source and are a little droopy from their journey. Don’t worry they will perk up with a drink of water. (At Blossom Indulgence we ensure our flowers have a good water source for delivery or pickup, so that they arrive looking their best.)
· Be aware of where you place your arrangement, factors such as sunlight, heat and drafts can affect the life of your flowers. Always find a cool location.
Make sure your flowers have a daily supply of fresh water. This means topping them up when the water gets low or replacing if water goes cloudy.
BOUQUETS AND POSIES
How to care for your fresh flowers
1.Choose a clean vase with fresh water. For shorter stemmed flowers use a shallower vase to give the arrangement structure.
· The vase should be tall enough to cover up to half of the stems.
2. Fill the vase with fresh water, for best results ensure the water is room tempreture and not ice cold. The water should cover 10 - 15cms of the stems.
· Freshly cut flowers will last longer if you add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per 1 litre of vase water.
3. Carefully remove the packaging and temporary water source from the flowers. If your flowers have been beautifully created by our florist, there is no need to cut the tie around the stems, as this holds the shape of your bouquet together.
4.Use a sharp pair of scissors/secateurs to cut 2 - 3cms from the stems, or if you need to cut more, to make the stems the correct length to fit the vase.
· Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle. This creates a larger surface area allowing the stem to absorb water more rapidly.
5. Strip away any foliage from the stems that would otherwise be in the water, before you place the flowers in the vase.
· Leaves on the stems below the water level is a major contributor to bacteria forming in the water.
6. Display your flowers in a cool area away from drafts, direct sunlight, heaters, air conditioners, and fresh fruit.
· As fruit ages ethylene gas is released, which can trigger the early death of fresh flowers.
7. Check water levels daily, top up fresh water if required.
8. If the water gets cloudy, remove the flowers, clean the vase, and fill it with clean water, trim stem ends again before placing back in vase.
· Some soft stemmed flowers like Stocks and Chrysanthemums tend to cloud the water and give it an offensive smell.
SELF - CONTAINED ARRANGEMENTS
How to care for your fresh flowers
With self - contained arrangements all you need to do is make sure there is enough water to keep your flowers happy.
1. Check the arrangement daily to ensure the floral foam is moist. If it becomes dry it is less likely to take up water again, so be sure to keep an eye on it regularly.
2. Keep flowers in a cool spot away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators.
Most importantly, remember to enjoy your flowers!