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Caring for your Flowers
The complete guide to longer lasting flowers.
  • Select a clean vase. Flower preservatives will be wasted on flowers that are placed in a dirty vase. In addition to being clean, the container should be large enough to hold the flowers. Ideally, a vase should be at least as wide at the bottom as it is at the top, to allow the stems enough room for maximum water uptake.
  • Add clean water and nutrients. A commercial floral preservative (which you should include with every cut flower purchase) should be added to fresh, luke warm water except in the case of spring bulb flowers, which require cold water for two reasons. First, it helps kill mould, fungi and bacteria, which when left unchecked, clog the stems and prevent the flowers from receiving the proper amounts of nutrients and water. Second, fresh flower nutrients help provide the energy needed to boost flowering and bring out flowers richest colours.
  • Remove water vials (sometimes placed on the end of flowers by florists) and cut stems on an angle under water. The most essential factor for an extended vase life is the stems. To assure a clear passage way for water, it is important that customers submerge the cut flower stems in warm water and cut half an inch or so off the bottom, at an angle, using a very sharp knife. If a dull knife or scissors is used, the vessels will be constricted, preventing the maximum water uptake.
  • Strip leaves from that part of the stem that will stand in water. Leaves standing in water will quickly cause bacteria growth, which will lead to decreased vase life.
  • Carefully place flowers in the container. Make sure that flower stems are not smashed against the bottom of the vase unable to take in water and that the shortest stems are reaching water.
  • Keep flowers away from draughts and full sunshine. Where vase of fresh flowers is displayed is an important concern. Flowers placed too close to heat or air conditioning vents will dry out quickly, and flowers exposed to draughts may wilt prematurely. The ideal site will have a cool temperature and a high relative humidity. While direct sunlight is harmful, bright light is beneficial to cut flowers, because it allows the remaining leaves to continue to produce some of their own food.
  • Flowers should not be placed on top of the television, refrigerator or near fish tanks or below standard lamps. They are all sources of heat which will shorten the life of your blooms.
  • Take steps to avoid ethylene contamination. Ethylene is a gas produced naturally in plants that stimulates aging. Just a small amount of ethylene will start the flowers production of this gas, causing it to age rapidly. Because fresh fruit, vegetables and decaying flowers produce this gas, customers are advised to keep fruit and vegetables away from flowers and to remove from arrangements any flowers that begin to wilt, so as not to damage nearby blooms.
  • Top the vase with fresh water regularly. Ideally, the vase water should be changed every two or three days, at which time the stems should be retrimmed and more flower nutrients added. Otherwise, fresh water should be added as needed.
  • Place flowers in a cool place at night. Flowers will benefit from a lower thermostat setting at night. Remind customers, however, to avoid placing flowers in draughts.
  • Once the flowers have expired, discard them and clean the vase thoroughly. One way to clean lingering bacteria in a vase is to let it soak in a warm water/chlorine solution.