All Fresh Flowers
Keep flowers away from draughts, radiators and other extreme temperatures, which can quickly dry out the flowers and cause wilting. Do not place your arrangement near fruit or in the path of cigarette smoke, the ethylene gas is detrimental to many flower types. Avoid placing flowers in windowsills and other areas with direct sunlight where flowers can wilt due to overheating. Your flowers will last longer under cool conditions. Keep away from pets and young children as some flowers can be toxic if eaten.
Bouquet And Vase Arrangements
If your flowers came in a cellophane wrap, remove this as soon as possible, but to keep the flowers as you received them, do not untie your arrangement. Keep your vase filled with water with all stems submerged, this will help your flowers stay fresher, longer. Watch your water, when it gets cloudy it’s time to change it out.
To change out water, first remove any dead or dying stems or flower heads, this will ensure your arrangement looks its best and prevent other flowers from dying quicker. After removing the dead flowers, take the rest of the arrangement out of its vase. Clean the vase thoroughly with soapy water to remove any bacteria that could cause the fresh flowers to deteriorate even quicker. Be sure to rinse thoroughly as certain soap residue can harm flowers. Replace the water and mix in the flower preservative provided by your florist, according to the instructions on the packet. Cut all stems with a sharp knife at an angle about one to two inches from the bottom, this allows your flowers to better absorb water. Do not use scissors, unless designed for flowers, to cut flower stems because they can crush the stems and prevent water absorption. After cutting, remove any foliage that will be below water level, then immediately put your flowers back in their vase.
Aquapack Bouquets
Your bouquet can be left in its aquapack for up to 48 hours. After 48 hours the bouquet will need to be placed in a vase with fresh water. To do this remove outermost packaging such as the box or bag, then snip the bubble of water over the sink which will release all the water. Follow all previous care instructions for ‘Bouquets And Vase Arrangements’.
Dyed Flowers
Dyed flowers will need more regular water changes than other flowers. They will lose their colour over time as it leaks into the surrounding water. The dyes used may stain skin and certain surfaces.
Dried Items
Keep away from windowsills and other areas with direct sunlight, which can dull colours. Keep away from humidity and any direct fluids, this can cause permanent damage to the stems as well as mould. Gently dust your arrangement/stems periodically. Items with delicate structure such as pampas grass may shed over time. This shedding can be helped with hairspray, just give delicate items a light spray when needed. Dried items can last a lifetime if looked after properly.
