Flower Care

A frequently Asked Question at Shoots Florist is...

“How do I take care of florist flowers and maximise my vase life?”

With a little care you can maximise your flower's life by several days. Here are some professional florist tips to extend the life of your fresh cut flowers.

Step 1.

If required, cut the stems by as much as 4 cm. Cut on an angle with a sharp knife or scissors. Avoid blunt knives or scissors, as this may damage the stems and prevent water uptake.

Step 2.

Strip all leaves that would fall below the water line when the stems are immersed in a vase. Also remove any bruised or dead leaves and petals. If the leaves are left in the water, rot causing bacteria and fungi will grow, which will quickly foul the water.

Step 3.

Make sure that your vase has been washed and rinsed and is totally clean. A small amount of bleach in hot water is ideal for this.

Step 4.

Place flowers in a vase with fresh water. Dissolve flower food in luke warm water. Ensure that stems are not jammed into the vase and that ends are not squashed against the bottom of the vase.

Step 5.

Keep flowers in a cool place away from direct sunlight and locations where things such as heaters and spotlights could overheat the arrangement. Also avoid draughts and never place flowers near ripening fruit. Fruit releases ethylene gas which ages flowers prematurely.

Step 6.

If you have flower food, add it to water. The preservative will keep the water clean and feed the flowers. You can also use a few drops of bleach as an alternative to flower food preservative. Bleach will help to create a pH neutral environment for your flowers, provide the stems with the necessary nutrients to assist bud development, and inhibit bacteria growth. Please note, flowers grown from bulbs do not require flower food. Examples of these are Tulips, Iris, Daffodils, Jonquills, and Hyacinth.

Step 7.

Recut flower stems and change the vase water 2 to 3 days later.