Most bouquets die early for the same few reasons, and all of them are easy to avoid. Here is what we tell our customers in the shop, in the order it matters.
The first hour counts most
Flowers drink through the cut at the bottom of the stem. That cut starts sealing within hours of leaving water, and air bubbles block the stem like a clogged straw. When your flowers arrive, get them into water quickly. If you cannot deal with them right away, stand them in a jug of cool water and sort them out later.
Cut the stems at an angle
Take 1 to 2 cm off each stem with a sharp knife or clean scissors, cutting on a slant. The angle keeps the stem from sitting flat on the bottom of the vase and sealing itself shut. Crushing stems with blunt scissors does the opposite of what you want. Re-cut every few days.
No leaves below the waterline
Any leaf sitting in water will rot, and that bacteria is what turns vase water cloudy and smelly. Strip the lower leaves before arranging. This single step often buys several extra days.
Change the water, not just top it up
Fresh water every two days, and rinse the vase when you do it. If you were given flower food, use it; it contains sugar to feed the bloom and an acidifier that slows bacteria. No food packet? Cool, clean water changed often beats any kitchen remedy.
Where you put the vase matters
- Away from direct sun and radiators. Heat makes flowers open fast and finish fast. In winter, a Brooklyn apartment radiator will age a bouquet in a day.
- Away from the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas, which makes petals drop early.
- Out of the draft. Air conditioning and open windows dry petals out.
- Cool at night. Moving the vase somewhere cooler overnight genuinely extends its life.
How long different flowers last
Carnations and chrysanthemums are the marathon runners, often two weeks or more. Roses, lisianthus and alstroemeria usually give you about a week. Hydrangeas and peonies are the divas: beautiful, thirsty and shorter lived. A mixed bouquet ages at different speeds, so pull out anything that has finished rather than letting it sit in the water.
Reviving droopy roses
A rose whose head has flopped is usually thirsty rather than dead. Re-cut the stem under running water, then stand the rose in deep, cool water for an hour or two. Many come back. Hydrangeas can also be revived this way, and they drink through their petals too, so a light mist helps.
Flower boxes, bags and baskets
Arrangements built in a box, bag or basket sit in floral foam that holds water for them. Do not take them apart. Instead, pour a little water into the foam every day or two until it stops absorbing. That is all the care they need.
If something is not right
Fresh flowers are delicate and sometimes a stem does not survive the trip. If your arrangement arrives damaged or wilted, send us a photo within 24 hours and we will replace it or refund you: see our refund policy. Questions about an order? We are open 24/7 at (929) 309-5719.
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