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.