In order to enjoy your hand-tied bouquet for as long as possible, prepare a thoroughly clean vase and add fresh water at room temperature.

 

Take the bouquet out of the bag and cut the bottom of the packaging (the 'water bubble') in a sink, to let the water escape safely. Remove the gift packaging, allowing the flowers to breathe. Please do not cut the binding cord around the stems if your bouquet has been hand tied and you wish to keep it arranged as designed.

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Cut each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors, removing 2.5cm (1 inch) from the base of the stem. Ensure that all foliage below the water line has been removed. Foliage floating in water creates bacteria which is harmful to the flowers and will shorten their vase life.

Place the cut flowers in the vase and then move the vase to the desired place, away from direct sunlight, radiators and air conditioning units. Flowers do not like extreme heat, cold or drafts.

 

Also, avoid proximity to fruit as fruit naturally produces ethylene as it ripens and this odourless gas will shorten the vase life of your flowers.

Maintain your flowers by removing any dead or dying flowers and any foliage that has fallen in the water. 

 

Top up with clean water daily if necessary. Ideally, re-cut the stems and change the water every 3 days. Note: very cold or hot water will stress the flowers so best to use water at room temperature.