Here is something you may not know.  Bacteria thrive on the sugary sap that leaks from all flower stems.  They double every 30 minutes and in 10 hours, 100 bacteria cells can become uncountable cells.  They invade the flower through the cut ends and quickly block the water conducting vessels to the flower head.  This causes flower wilting and very short vase life. 

Q. How can I make my flowers last longer?

• Flowers love 18-24 deg temperatures, so keep flowers in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents.
• If in a vase, change or top up with tap water every day. (In order to keep the water bacteria-free and clean, we recommend changing the water in the vase, every other day).
• If an arrangement, add half a glass of tap water, once a day.
• Flowers that go limp are not drinking well and their stems need to be recut.
• Always discard wilted blooms (dead blooms cause bacteria in the water)
• Please ask for a free sachet of floral food and follow the directions on the flower food sachet provided.

Old Wives Tales:

• Drop a copper cent coin in the bottom of your vase. 
• Add a spoon full of sugar to the vase. 
• Add one aspirin tablet to the vase. 
• Add a drop of bleach. 

These and many such tales are not scientifically proven to prolong the life of your flowers, however, none of these ‘tales’ would damage or kill your bouquet, so we leave this to the ‘old wives’ to decide! 

All flower petals are made of very delicate cells. Hence never ever put any fresh flowers inside a refrigerator as they will die. 

Add days to their beauty!

Certain varieties of cut flowers last longer than others. Orchids, Carnations and Chrysanthemums, can remain vibrant for long periods. Roses can have 5 to 12 days of vase life. Lily’s 6-9 days. Greenery up to 8 days. As some flowers will last longer than others, carefully remove spent blooms, especially if other flowers in your display are still alive and looking good. 

You can always pull out flowers as they wilt and either replace them with new flowers, mix the arrangement around, or even break it up into smaller vases. By pulling out the flowers as they expire, you will be able to enjoy each and every stem in the arrangement. 

Whatever variety you choose, a little care will go a long way to keep your blooms looking fresh longer. 

When Buying Fresh Flowers

Look for flowers with upright, firm petals and buds beginning to open. Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are signs of age, as are open blooms and flower stems that give off an odour. Try to aim for bunches that have buds that are starting to open. Do not buy flowers with too closed buds, because you run the risk of them not opening fully. However, unlike other flowers, lilies will bloom from tightly closed buds. 

Most importantly, remember to enjoy your flowers! They don’t last forever but they do bring “great joy & happiness.