Flower Care Tips

While we work hard to bring you the freshest flowers on the market, your flowers and plants will have a longer life if you follow a few easy steps. With only a little special attention, your flowers will look healthier for the longest possible time and your plants will thrive.

After you receive your bouquet, you can help your fresh flowers last longer by following these simple cut flower care guidelines. Knowing how to make your flowers last longer will add to your enjoyment of them, and will help keep them vibrant and long lasting.


Check your flowers daily

Keep the vase, container or liner filled with fresh water. Even if the container has floral foam, you should keep the water level high to promote long lasting flowers. If you completely change the water, you should also thoroughly clean the container. Add fresh water mixed with a commercial fresh flower food. It’s one of the best and easiest ways to extend the life of your flowers, but be sure to follow the directions on the package correctly. Improperly mixed flower food can actually do more harm than good.

Re-cut their stems

Every few days, remove the flowers from the design and re-cut the stems. Remove 3/4" to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle to allow the flower the best chance to take up water. Use a sharp knife or sharp floral cutter or scissor. Avoid smashing or piercing the stems, as this can destroy the water vessels in the stem and prevent water absorption. Remove any spent or damaged blooms or foliage that falls below the waterline in the vase.

To avoid disturbing the stem placements in a vase arrangement, tie the stems with twine just above the vase’s edge before taking them out of their vase. Hold the tied arrangement at the twine-bound point to re-cut the stems. Then place them back into the clean vase with the fresh water and a flower food.

Change their water and add additional fresh flower food

Be sure to clean the vase before refilling it with room-temperature water mixed with the proper amount of fresh flower food. Be sure no debris is floating in the water (such as leaves and stem parts) as this could promote the growth of bacteria which can shorten a flower's life.

Display flowers in a cool spot

Most flowers prefer temperatures between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius and are best displayed away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators, which give off heat and can cause flowers to dehydrate. Avoid placing fresh flowers near ripening fruit, which releases tiny amounts of ethylene gas that can age them prematurely.

Do's & Don'ts of Fresh Flower Care
Always use a clean vase and quality waterNever use "homemade" substitute for flower food such as aspirin, soda pop, or bleach.
Always re-cut your flowers initially.Never remove all foliage from the stem
Always remove the leaves below the water line.Never place your flowers with or near fresh fruit or cigarette smoke as both produce ethylene gas which will shorten flower life.
Always check the water daily and top it up.Never place flowers in direct sunlight, near a heat register, or near any other source of excessive heat.
Remove any flowers that with time look less than pristine, as this will keep the remaining flowers looking fresh.Never use flower food in crystal or metal containers as the acid in the flower food will react with metal (including the lead in crystal)