A few simple things make the biggest difference to the freshness of cut flowers: a clean vase, fresh water, freshly trimmed stems and the right spot in the room. Regular, straightforward care helps a bouquet stay beautiful for longer.

A close-up of flowers in a Floway bouquet. Image from Floway’s published materials.

A clean vase and freshly cut stems

Flowers stay fresh for longer in a clean vase, with no leaves below the waterline. Leaves left in the water start to decay and encourage bacteria to grow.

It is a good idea to trim a little off the stem ends with a clean, sharp tool and place the flowers in water straight away. A clean cut helps the stem absorb water, while a crushed or damaged stem makes this harder.

Change the water every few days

Check the water level in the vase every day. If the water becomes cloudy or develops an unpleasant smell, it needs replacing.

Even water that looks clean should be changed regularly. Horticulturists and florists recommend changing it every two to four days and trimming a little off the stem ends at the same time. Removing wilted flowers and any leaves that have fallen into the water helps the rest of the bouquet stay fresh.

Keep flowers away from sunlight and fruit

A cooler spot out of direct sunlight is better for a bouquet. A table in the middle of a room is usually a better choice than a sunny windowsill above a radiator or a place beside the cooker.

Ripe fruit is not an ideal neighbour for flowers either. It releases ethylene, which can speed up the ageing of flowers. You can find out more about the effects of temperature, light and fruit here.

Should you add anything to the water?

Yes, you can use flower food specially made for cut flowers. It works best when mixed in the proportions shown on the packaging. Adding more will not make the flowers last longer. Specialists recommend ready-made flower food rather than homemade mixtures containing sugar or aspirin.

Your Floway bouquet is already in water

Our florists prepare bouquets at our studio in Mārupe and place them in the machines while fresh, each in its own water reservoir, so the flowers remain in water until collection. This is convenient if the bouquet will spend some time travelling or will be given somewhere without a vase. Bouquets are available at Origo, RIX Riga Airport, the SPICE and Rīga Plaza shopping centres, and other locations in Riga and the surrounding area.

The reservoir keeps flowers in water after collection. The same basic principles help maintain their freshness afterwards: clean water, a cooler spot and the care instructions provided with the particular arrangement.

Why do different flowers wilt at different times?

How long flowers stay fresh depends on their variety, their condition when purchased and the conditions at home. In a mixed bouquet, some flowers naturally last longer than others. Good care helps, but we cannot promise the same number of days for every bouquet. Thanks to the water reservoir and storage at a controlled temperature, Floway bouquets stay fresh at home for about two weeks on average.

Browse Floway’s current selection and choose the collection point that suits you best.

Author: Floway