Use lukewarm water:
there's less oxygen in it and it helps to prevent
air bubbles in the stem
that
block water uptake. It also encourages some flowers
to open up. The only exception to this is spring
bulb flowers (like daffodils and tulips) which
prefer cold water.
Use
clean vases!
Bacteria
kill flowers!
Bad!!
Cut
stems at an angle. This gives the stem a bigger
surface area to take up more water and prevents it
from resting on the bottom of the vase and sealing
itself.
Do
not smash
stems, pierce stems, or use blunt scissors.
This
destroys the water vessels, inhibits water uptake,
and facilitates bacterial growth. It also causes
unnecessary stress to the flower!
Do
not
mix daffodils and
narcissi with other flowers.
They emit latex
from their stems when cut (i.e., `daffodil slime')
which shortens the life of other flowers. Keep
daffodils alone in vases, or use the special bulb
cut flower food which makes them safe to mix with
other flowers. You can place the daffodils in a
bucket of water for at least 12 hours on their own
and then arrange them with other flowers, making
sure you do not cut the stem again.
Do
not
put flowers near ripening fruit as ripe fruit
releases tiny amounts of ethylene gas which
prematurely ages flowers. Dying flowers do the same
so always remove them from the vase.
Do
not
place flowers in a draught, or in bright sunlight
(the warmth from bright sunlight encourages
bacterial growth). Keep them away from over-warm
central heating.
When you receive shipped flowers, remove the water
tubes.
Then
cut stems one inch from the bottom at an angle with
a knife and place them in a
vase
with fresh warm water or in the case of roses, hot
water.
Re-cut stems and change
water every 3 days.
Putting fresh
warm or hot water and re-cutting your stems will
prolong the life of your flowers, from one to two
weeks.
For
tropical flowers, please submerge the red or pink
torch blooms (Gingers and Birds of Paradise) for
approximately 20 minutes. Mist them on a daily basis
as they like the humidity.
Tulips and other bulb flowers like cold water. Also,
you may add a handful of copper coins in the vase –
they like that.
Important
if the flowers drupe prematurely just fill your bath
tub with approx 1 inch of water at room temperature
and recut you stems. Then lay your roses or flowers
down in the water for about 1 hour and they will be
as
good
as new!
Once
they are strong and straight again, just re-cut and
place back in a clean vase with water.
Presto!
