At Fleur de Paris, every bouquet we design is made with care and fresh seasonal flowers. To help you get the most from your arrangement, we’ve put together a flower care guide based on proven florist tips. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy your flowers for longer and help them stay looking vibrant and beautiful at home.
As soon as you arrive home or receive your flowers, remove all wrapping and ties carefully. Flowers need space and fresh air, and keeping them in packaging for too long can limit water intake and encourage mould or bacterial growth.
If your bouquet is already hand-tied in a water bubble, it can be placed straight into a vase without untying the stems. However, if the flowers are loose, you’ll need to remove any foliage below the waterline. Leaves submerged in water will rot quickly and encourage harmful bacteria, which can block the stems and reduce vase life by several days.
Using sharp scissors, a florist knife or secateurs, trim 2 to 3 centimetres off the bottom of each stem. Always cut at a 45-degree angle rather than straight across. This creates a larger surface area for water absorption and prevents the stem from resting flat against the base of the vase, which can block the uptake of water.
Re-trimming every couple of days keeps the ends fresh and open. After just a few hours out of water, stems begin to seal over – particularly woody stems like roses or hydrangeas – so this step really helps prolong freshness.
It’s important to start with a thoroughly clean vase, as bacteria from previous use can carry over and shorten the life of your new flowers. Fill it with room temperature water – not too hot and not cold – and add any flower food sachet provided with your order.
Flower food isn’t just a marketing extra – it contains a balanced mix of nutrients, pH stabilisers and antibacterial agents that genuinely help cut flowers last longer. Studies show that flowers placed in treated water can last up to 60 percent longer than those in plain water.
Choose a cool spot to display your flowers, away from radiators, strong sunlight and draughty windowsills. Flowers age more quickly when exposed to heat or direct sun, especially delicate varieties like sweet peas, anemones or freesias.
Also, avoid placing your flowers next to a fruit bowl. Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which can speed up the ageing process and cause flowers to wilt or drop petals much faster. Lilies and orchids are especially sensitive to ethylene exposure.
Changing the water every two to three days is one of the most effective things you can do to keep your arrangement fresh. When you do, clean the vase with warm soapy water, rinse well, and refill with clean water and more flower food if available.
It’s also a good time to re-trim the stems. This keeps them free of bacterial blockages and ensures maximum water absorption.
Some flowers benefit from a little more attention:
Always remove any spent blooms or drooping stems to keep the display looking fresh and to prevent decay from spreading.
At Fleur de Paris, we select every stem by hand and design each bouquet with care in our Bournemouth flower boutique. Our flowers are always fresh, and we want you to enjoy them for as long as possible.
If you're ever unsure how to care for your flowers at home, just give us a ring or pop into the shop. We're always happy to share our knowledge and help you keep your blooms looking beautiful.