Conditioning and Care of your flowers
Generally speaking cut flowers will absorb more than half the water they need to survive during the first day. It is during this time that a few simple rules on general flower care will make the difference and extend the vase life and the beauty of your flowers.
Prepare the Water
Make sure the vase you choose is suitable for the flowers and has been thoroughly cleaned. It is better you add warm water as like this,
the life-giving oxygen is more easily carried into the flower buds. Flowers do best in water that is pH neutral.
Dissolve a few drops of household liquid bleach or the crystals from the flower food sachet that arrived with your flowers. This will help to create a pH neutral environment for your flowers, provide the stems with the necessary nutriments to assist bud development and inhibit bacteria growth.
Prepare the flowers
With a sharp knife, cut the stems and remove the leaves below the water level. Some flowers are prone to air locks in the stems. That is why, if you are placing your flowers into a vase, it is recommended that you cut the stems by as much as 4 cm. This removes dead tissue and airlocks in the stems.
Remove any leaves below the water level, as they can cause the water to become cloudy and promote bacteria growth.
Place immediately in water until ready to arrange.
Your vase water should be changed every 2 days.
Placing your flowers
Avoid placing flowers directly under or over any heating/air conditioning duct, keep them away from drafts, sunlight, humidity even heat generated from television can cause flowers to deteriorate quicker.
What is floral food and why use it?
Floral food is a combination of additives that help to nourish the flowers and discourage bacteria from growing in the water. It is one of the best-and easiest-ways to extend the life of your flowers. It is very important to follow the directions on the package correctly. Improperly mixed floral food can do more harm than good.
Arranged Flower Care
You should replace the water entirely every 2 days or every time it becomes cloudy.
Dissolve a few drops of household liquid bleach or the crystals from the flower food sachet that arrived with your flowers.
For the flowers that arrive pre arranged in the vase and for the flowers that you have arranged yourself it is recommended that you always pinch or snip off the flowers that may have faded, because, in certain cases, this can promote the next bud to open.
If possible, recut the stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Remove leaves that will be below the waterline. Leaves in water will promote bacterial growth that can harm the flowers.
If your flowers arrived pre arranged
Fill the vase with the water where you have dissolved the floral food. Make sure the water level is kept full at all times.
Avoid placing flowers directly under or over any heating/air conditioning duct, keep them away from drafts, sunlight, humidity; even heat generated from television can cause flowers to deteriorate quicker.
For the flowers that arrive pre arranged in the vase and for the flowers that you have arranged yourself it is recommended that you always pinch or snip off the flowers that may have faded, because, in certain cases, this can promote the next bud to open.
And finally, enjoy the gift of flowers and the feeling they convey.
