Receiving a fresh bouquet of cut flowers, like these summer ones from our online shop, whether it is a gift or just because someone wants to show they love and care about you will be something that never gets old. It is a lovely feeling, knowing that you seeing those fresh blooms we put together for our fabulous customers every day can instantly put a smile on your face. However, they often don’t last as long as you would like, especially in the recent hot weather we’ve been having in Cheltenham. That is until now. If you are looking for ways to keep your bouquet fresh for longer then the tips below from the Make Their Day Flowers team will help with that.
Preparing the flowers correctly
One of the first things to consider would be to ensure that you prepare the flowers correctly before adding them to the vase for display. A great tip is to clean the stems first, as sometimes there can be residual dirt which will cause the water to become slimy. Next up, remove the lower leaves and any wilted stems. Trim the stems, at a 45 degree angle for hard stems and straight across for soft stems. This will help to keep the stem open for longer so that more water can be drawn up to keep the bouquet fresh.
Preparing the vase
The one thing you might not do is take any consideration for the vase, but this can be a big mistake. Preparing the vase is simple. Using a clean vase will ensure that no dirt will affect the water you are using for your bouquet. You should also add warm water to the vase and not cold. Adding your flower food helps to keep your bouquet fresh but you can replicate this yourself if you haven’t got any with your bouquet. Lemonade that has added sugar can be a great way to give the bouquet sugar and acidity.
Avoid positioning the vase in direct sunlight and keep them cool
Keeping your bouquet away from direct sunlight and heat will help to avoid the leaves and stems drying out too quickly. The sunlight can also cause your flowers to wilt prematurely. Display your vase and bouquet of flowers in a cool naturally lit area to ensure maximum lifespan.
Change the water frequently
Some would say that as long as you add to the vase and keep it topped up with water then that is sufficient, and while that is true, if you are really wanting to maximise the bouquet of flowers you have and keep them fresh for longer then it is a good idea to change the water entirely and clean out the vase each time. It avoids any dirt contaminating the water and ensures your bouquet stays fresh.
Remove any flowers that wilt
Flowers, leaves, and stems that have wilted should be removed to avoid the rest of your bouquet wilting prematurely. A flower or stem that has wilted will release a ripening gas, which could cause the other flowers also to wilt. Keeping on top of this will keep your bouquet looking full of life.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to keep your bouquet fresher for longer. For more tips on the best way to prepare and arrange your bouquet in your vase, see our post here. Find us at our store in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham or order online, we have an enormous delivery area and can offer same day delivery Monday – Saturday if you order before 3pm!
