To keep a bouquet fresh for longer, trim the stems at an angle, put them in clean water straight away, change the water every day and keep the flowers away from heat, direct sun and fruit. With good care, most fresh bouquets stay beautiful for several days. Here is a simple routine.
1. Put the flowers in water quickly
As soon as the bouquet arrives, unwrap it carefully and place the stems in a clean vase of cool water. The sooner the stems drink, the longer the flowers last.
2. Trim the stems at an angle
Cut 2 to 3 cm off each stem at a 45 degree angle with a sharp knife or scissors. An angled cut gives the stem more surface to drink and stops it sitting flat on the bottom of the vase. Trim again every two days.
3. Remove leaves below the water line
Leaves that sit in the water rot quickly and make the water cloudy. Remove any leaves that would be under water.
4. Change the water every day
Fresh, clean water is the most important thing. Rinse the vase, refill it with cool water and trim the stems slightly when you do.
5. Keep the bouquet cool
- Keep flowers away from direct sunlight, heaters and the top of the fridge or TV.
- In Pakistan's hot summer, place the vase in the coolest room, out of the afternoon sun. A room with a fan or air conditioning helps.
- Do not keep flowers next to a fruit bowl. Ripening fruit releases a gas that makes flowers age faster.
6. Remove wilted flowers and petals
Take out any flower that starts to droop, and remove brown outer petals from roses. This keeps the bouquet looking fresh and stops the water going bad.
Tips for specific flowers
- Roses: if a rose head droops, re-cut the stem and place it in fresh water.
- Lilies: remove the orange pollen tips carefully to avoid stains and make the flowers last longer.
- Sunflowers: they drink a lot of water, so top up the vase often.
- Baby's breath: keep it in cool water and away from heat.
Flower boxes and wrapped bouquets
Flowers in a box usually sit in wet foam. Add a little water to the foam every day without flooding the box. For a wrapped bouquet with a water pouch, move the flowers to a vase within a day for the best results.
Every Pasha Bouquet bouquet is hand-tied on the day of delivery, so it reaches you fresh. Browse fresh bouquets or flower boxes.
Frequently asked questions
How long do fresh flowers last?
Most fresh bouquets last several days with good care. Roses and baby's breath, kept cool and in clean water, often last longer.
Should I add sugar or aspirin to the water?
Clean water changed every day works best. Flower food from a florist is fine, but home remedies are not needed.
Why are my roses drooping?
Usually the stems cannot drink. Re-cut the stems at an angle and place them in fresh, cool water.
