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Care and Handling Of Flowers
When you buy flowers for yourself or receive flowers as a gift, it is
important that you take care of them properly (after all,
they are alive). In order to get them to last as long as
possible a few simple steps will go a long way.
General Care and Handling Tips
- If your flowers arrive dry in a box, it's best to get them in
water as soon as possible. Don't leave them out of water for more than a
few hours.
- Always recut the stems of flowers before placing them into
water.
- Cutting the stems of the flowers at an angle will allow a better interface
between the flower stem and the water, and will help water uptake.
- Room temperature water is fine. Don't use water that is icy. Very warm
water can often revive wilted flowers, (if they are not too far gone,
but also causes them to open and age faster).
- You can buy specially prepared flower preservative from your florist.
These have some sort of food for the flower and also something to keep
the water cleaner. Use these in your vases of water.
- Change the water in glass vases every two to three days. Add
fresh water and flower preservative.
- If you receive a vase arrangement made in a foam base, it is important
to remember that as the flowers drink the water from the foam, it will gradually
get dry. So it's a good idea to add water every day or so to the design.
- Vase arrangements won't do as well as possible if placed for long periods
of time in a window
with direct sunlight.
- Similarly it's not a great idea to place your flowers for long periods
on a refrigerator, radiator or dishwasher, as they give off a bit of heat.
- Don't place your flowers in a direct draft from an air conditioner.
- Flowers do freeze at 32 degrees and below, so it's not good to leave
them in unheated automobile, etc.
- Remove any decaying flowers from an arrangment or vase of flowers.
- If you receive flowers to wear, don't store them in the freezer as they
will freeze!!
- Never leave flowers out in heat for long periods of time. This can
happen for example, if you're buying flowers in hot weather, & leave them in
the trunk of your car, etc.
- If you buy or receive flowers and something doesn't seem right, don't wait three days.
Contact the florist right away. S/he is more likely to be able to assist you
if you don't delay.
More questions? Please see our
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for more about
Care and Handling of Flowers.
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