Introduction
To ensure the maximum life and enjoyment of your flowers, please be sure to follow our simple guidelines, which will help your cut flowers to remain in the very best condition.
Hand Tied Bouquets
Our hand tied floral bouquets are carefully arranged by our skilled florists, ready to be placed into suitable vase on arrival. The packaging and water container in which your flowers arrive are only sufficient to keep the flowers fresh for delivery, and will not sustain a bouquet for extended periods of time.
Arranging Your Bouquet
Upon delivery of your flowers, carefully remove all external packaging. It is important to ensure that you retain the shape of the floral bouquet, leaving the securing string tied around the stems. The way the flowers are tied ensures that they will stand nicely in their vase and provide an excellent display from all angles.
When removing the packaging from the base of the stems, it is a good idea to hold the bouquet over a sink. This ensures that should any water spill out, it will be easily dealt with.
With all packaging removed but the bouquet still tied, lay the bouquet of flowers on their site and cut - at an angle of 45° - approximately 2-3cm off the bottom of each stem. Ideally the stems should be cut while holding them submerged (you can use a bucket or washing up bowl) as this will prevent air entering the stems, allowing the flowers to take up more water once placed in their vase. When selecting a vase, ensure that it is large enough to enable the stems of the flowers to reach at least half way down. Fill the vase with room-temperature water to approximately three quarters full, adding the specialist flower food crystals provided.
Always ensure that the vase you use is completely clean, as any residue can harbor bacteria, which can significantly reduce the life of your flowers. Remove any leaves which lie below the water level as these can rot while submerged, discolouring and possibly harming your flowers.
Always take great care when handling lily pollen as it may stain clothing and furnishings. To remove pollen form clothing or fabric, please refer to our flower encyclopedia entry, caring for your lilies. Lily pollen may also be harmful to certain pets if ingested. If your pet should begin to show signs off ill-health after ingesting even a small amount of pollen, please consult your veterinarian.
Choosing The Right Location
Choosing a suitable location for your flower will ensure you receive maximum enjoyment from them. As cut-flowers thrive in light, cool environments, it can be tricky to find a good position in the home to ensure they are happy. The ideal temperature range for cut-flowers in the home is 18-22°C (65-72°F).
Position your flowers away from direct sunlight, radiators, vents and other appliances that give off heat. A cool window sill which receives lots of natural light but only minimal direct sun is the perfect spot for a bouquet. A coffee table or dining table - usually away from appliances and radiators - is often another good location, as long as the room is kept relatively cool.
Never place flowers near ripening fruit, or leave dying blooms in the vase. Ripening fruit and dying flowers both release tiny amounts of ethylene gas, which is known to trigger ageing in flowers, thus reducing their vase life.
Ongoing Care
To ensure your flowers stay fresh, and to maximise the vase life of your bouquet, please try and follow these points:
Lightly spray your bouquet with a gentle mist of water daily.
Remove dead or dying flower heads or stems from the bouquet.
Keep the water level topped up, and ensure that the water is clean, Cloudy, discoloured or smelly water should be discarded and replaced with fresh, room temperature water.
A couple of days after receiving your flowers and placing them in their vase, it is a good idea to re-cut the stems. Trim another 1cm from the base of each stem, as this will remove any air bubbles that may have built up in the stem, and should help to revitalise the flower.
Always add flower food to the water as indicated on the packaging.
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Further Information
Wikipedia: Flowers
Wikipedia: Florist
Royal Horticultural Soceity
Flowers & Plants Association
