How you care for your flowers will make an important difference to the length of time that they will last.
Hand tied bouquets are arranged by the florist so they can be placed straight into a vase upon receipt.
You can remove some or all of the external packaging and if you want to keep the shape of the bouquet you should leave the string tied around the stems.
Trim the stems by 3cm at an angle with a sharp knife, scissors or secateurs taking care as some stems can be tough!
Remove any leaves that will be below the water line to prevent bacterial growth.
Fill a clean vase with clean water and use half of the flower food provided. After 3 – 4 days, change the water in the vase using the other half of the flower food.
Should your bouquet be delivered in an aqua pack and presentation box and you wish to place in a vase of your choice,.simply hold your bouquet over a sink and cut away the cellophane reservoir.
Bouquets, buckets and baskets should be displayed in a cool area, away from radiators, sunlight and direct heat but also away from drafts.
Make sure the vase is topped up with clean fresh water every one to two days.
Trim a little (2-3 cm) of the stem every three to four days to keep them clear of bacteria.
Woody stems such as roses should be cut at least 3cms from the bottom at a sharp angle.
Roses should be put into cold water as soon as possible and certainly within 1 hour. Should the heads of the Roses start to droop, wrap the heads together very tightly in newspaper, trim the stems as above and place in deep cold water for between 2-3 hours.
For arrangements such as baskets and buckets which are presented in florists foam, make sure the foam is kept moist by adding fresh water every two to three days. Display as above.
Some flowers and foliage may be toxic or cause irritations, keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Some lily pollens can stain clothing and other soft fabrics so it is possible to remove the stamens from opening blooms.