After care for flowers

Top up water regularly.
Water is taken up surprisingly quickly, so it is usually necessary to top up the vase or dampen the floral foam daily. Use tepid water, with cut flower food. Water in vases should always be kept clean.

Flower food.
This is a good item to use in fresh water, it prolongs the life of the flowers by delaying the start of bacteria which kills the flowers and turns the water dirty and smelly.

Protect from heat and draughts.
Draughts cause excessive water loss, but it isn't as harmful as overheating. Keep your arrangement or vase of flowers away from direct sunlight, radiators and open fires. The top of a television set is also not a good place for flowers not only does the heat effect the flowers, but there is also a risk of water interfering with the television.

Keep away from fruit.
Do not place your flowers near fruit. Apples, pears etc, emit ethylene gas, this gas accelerates the ripening of flowers.

Mist occasionally.
Apply a gentle mist like spray above and around your arrangement, you can use a mister which is available from all good garden centres and flower shops. If the air is hot, misting should be done more regularly. Be careful not to spray to close to delicate petals and the water droplets may cause damage.

Dead head when needed.
The vase life of flowers can vary greatly from variety to variety. Dead heading flowers, ie, taking dead flowers off the stem carefully, can ensure that flower arrangements last longer, and it also encourages more flowers to open fully.

Last Update: 14th March 2008