When arranging
Fill your vase half to two thirds full with lukewarm water, this helps closed buds to start opening. Arranging your flowers in cold water should be avoided as this can significantly reduce the longevity of your gift. Do not put flowers in metal or aluminium containers, glass is ideal.
Once unwrapped
Your flowers may take up to 24 hours after being placed in water to reach their full potential. Ensure all excess foliage and leaves below the water are removed to reduce any harmful bacteria within the water.
Trimming
Flowers like their stems trimmed. So, trim them, at an angle with a knife (rather than scissors) by an inch or so. When trimming stems, always cut at an angle of roughly 45 degrees; this increases the surface area allowing your flowers to absorb more water.
Feeding
Every Petals & Posies order is accompanied by a sachet of cut flower food which will help to prolong the life of your flowers. Top up regularly with water and flower food, removing any fading flowers. Ensure the floristry foam used in arrangements is moist and topped up daily; this helps to prolong the life and vibrancy of your arrangements.
Useful Tips For Beautiful, Lasting Flowers
Cut one inch off the bottom of soft stemmed flowers with a sharp knife, slantwise (45°). Hard and woody stemmed flowers should be sliced slantwise with one to three inches of the bark at the end of the stem scraped away with a sharp knife. Always arrange in a deep, clean container of warm water, topping up daily. Do not use metal containers as this can neutralise the flower food.
Remove all leaves below water level. This will ensure that leaves do not decompose in the water and contaminate it.
Advise on keeping flowers looking fresh.
Don't display your flowers in an area that is subject to draughts or excessive heat, e.g. In an open, sunny window or on top of a television. This will cause the water/moisture to evaporate too rapidly and leave you with a wilted display.
How does heat and cold affect the lifespan of cut flowers?
Warm temperatures encourage flowers to respire at a higher rate and fade more quickly, so the cooler the room or location they're in, the longer they will last. However, draughty spots - such as hallway's or near open doors, could dry out the petals. A regular spray mist of water will help.
Why should stems be cut at a 45° angle?
Making a slanted cut provides stems with a bigger surface area for taking up more water, and also stops them from resting flat on the bottom of the vase, limiting their water intake.
Why submerge flowers in warm water?
Lukewarm water contains less oxygen than cold water, and reduces the amount of air bubbles likely to form in the stem's network of tiny conductive vessels, blocking water uptake.
What is in the free floral food received with my Bouquet?
Floral food contains three additives which work together to nourish flowers and deter bacteria. These are supplied with our Bouquets:
1, sugars to feed the flowers and encourage buds to form.
2, Biocides that kill the bacteria, yeasts and fungi.
3, Acidifiers to help water move up the stem more easily.