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Flower Care Tips

The best way to keep flowers fresh and beautiful for as long as possible is to keep the water clean! We recommend changing the water in your floral arrangement once every day. If possible, give the flowers a quick, short chop of the ends every other day - or every day if possible - when changing the water. For most vase arrangements, you can easily lift the whole arrangement out of the vase and dump the water out & refill before setting the flowers back down in clean water. For wicker baskets or arrangements that require floral foam, just set the arrangement under the sink and add some water until it's full. This will ensure the floral foam stays wet and the flowers don't run out of water, making them last as long as possible.

Most floral arrangements last 4-7 days or longer, depending on the flowers used and the care they receive. The Society of American Florists provides these tips for longer-lasting, more vibrant flowers:

For loose bunches or boxed flowers

  • Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them in a flower food solution. Don't forget how important it is to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet.
  • Fill a clean, deep vase with water and add flower food from your florist.
  • Remove leaves that will be below the waterline. Leaves in water will promote bacterial microbial growth that may limit water uptake by the flower.
  • Re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Place the flowers in the vase solution you've prepared.

For floral arrangements

  • Keep the vase filled (or floral foam soaked) with water. Flower foods make flowers last longer but it is important to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet. Most packets are to be mixed with either a pint or a quart of water. Flower foods should not be diluted with more water than is specified on the packet.
  • If the water becomes cloudy, replace it entirely with new water. If possible, re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Be sure to use a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems. Immediately place the stems into solution.
  • Keep flowers in a cool spot (65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit), away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, or directly under ceiling fans. Most flowers will last longer under cool conditions.