How to keep your bouquet alive
Six simple rituals to make every arrangement last twice as long.
A bouquet is a living thing
Fresh flowers will reward small daily acts of care with a week — or two — of beauty. The rituals below are what our florists do at home, distilled into six gentle steps. Read once, refer back often.
Cut stems at an angle
Using sharp shears, trim about an inch from each stem at a 45-degree angle. This opens a wider surface for water to enter and prevents the stem from sitting flat against the bottom of the vase, which suffocates the bloom.
Use clean lukewarm water & flower food
Fill a clean vase two-thirds with lukewarm water and dissolve the sachet of flower food we include with every bouquet. Lukewarm water is absorbed faster than cold, and the food balances pH while preventing bacteria.
Remove leaves below the waterline
Any foliage submerged in water decays quickly and breeds bacteria that clog stems. Strip leaves from the lower third of each stem before arranging — your bouquet will last days longer.
Keep them away from heat & direct sun
Display your arrangement in a cool spot, out of direct sunlight, away from radiators, and far from the fruit bowl — ripening fruit releases ethylene gas that accelerates wilting.
Refresh the water every two days
Every other day, empty the vase, give it a quick rinse, and refill with fresh lukewarm water. Re-trim the stems by half an inch each time to keep the channels open.
Mist delicate blooms daily
Hydrangeas, peonies, and roses drink through their petals as well as their stems. A light daily mist with cool water keeps petals plump and the blooms looking freshly cut.
Flower-specific tips
Every flower has its own preferences. Here is what each one quietly asks for.
Roses
Remove guard petals to reveal the inner bloom, and dunk wilted stems in lukewarm water for 30 minutes to revive them.
Lilies
Gently pinch off pollen anthers as they open — pollen stains petals (and fabric), and removing them extends bloom life.
Tulips
Tulips keep growing after they are cut. Use a tall, supportive vase and keep them in cooler spots to slow the stretch.
Sunflowers
Heavy heads need deep water — fill the vase higher than usual and change the water daily to prevent stem rot.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas drink through their petals. If a head wilts, submerge the whole bloom in cool water for 30–45 minutes and it will usually bounce back.
Peonies
Display them from the soft 'marshmallow' bud stage. Warm water speeds opening; a cool room slows it — use that to time the bloom for an event.
Orchids
Cut orchids dislike cold drafts and chlorinated water. Use filtered or overnight-rested tap water and keep stems away from AC vents.
Carnations
Re-cut above a node (the bump on the stem) — water can't pass through the node itself. With fresh water they last two weeks or more.
A few things to avoid
Place near heat
Radiators, ovens, and direct sunlight cook delicate petals.
Sit in a draft
AC vents and open windows dehydrate blooms within hours.
Skip the flower food
Tap water alone breeds bacteria and shortens vase life.
Leave murky water
Cloudy water signals bacteria — refresh immediately.
“The single most beautiful thing you can give a flower is your attention.”
— The Flower Fields Studio