Did you receive a bouquet of flowers and want to enjoy it for a long time? Are you looking for tips on how to preserve a bridal bouquet, a floral arrangement, or even floral accessories?
You’re in the right place.
As a florist, I love to offer my clients some tips on care and preservation so they can enjoy their fresh flower arrangements for as long as possible.
Today, I’m sharing these tips so you can enjoy your flowers for several days, and often even for one to two weeks!
First and foremost, take good care of your flowers by keeping their petals away from moisture, direct sunlight, and any heat sources or drafts (like windows, air conditioning, or radiators…). Next, place them in a suitable vase filled with fresh water up to two-thirds full, which you should change every 48 to 72 hours. During this maintenance, you can also trim a few centimeters off the stems to help the plants absorb water better and stay hydrated.
Want more details and tips on this topic? Keep reading to find out:
- What to do right after purchasing the bouquet to help it stay fresh
- How to care for it on a daily basis
- How to maintain a floral arrangement that’s set in foam
- An ideal preservation method for small fresh flower accessories (like crowns, etc.)
- A selection of flowers that last a long time in a vase, even during the summer heat!
What to Do to Keep a Bouquet Fresh for as Long as Possible?
Did you just buy a bouquet of flowers for yourself or as a gift? To enjoy them for as long as possible, I recommend following these simple tips that I’ll share in the following lines!
Before He Arrives Home
Cut flowers are delicate: they are especially sensitive to moisture, as well as to cold and heat. To help your bouquet stay fresh for as long as possible, be sure to:
- that it stays out of water for no more than one hour, or even less in extremely hot weather,
- that the flowers do not get any raindrops, which could damage them prematurely and irreversibly,
- that your bouquet is not cramped under luggage,
- that it is not exposed to direct sunlight 🌞, such as on the back seat of your vehicle.
Upon Arriving Home
Once your bouquet has been given as a gift or arrives at your home, here’s how to proceed:
➡️ Carefully open the packaging on a clean workspace,
➡️ Prepare a vase of appropriate size (not too wide or too narrow – the stems should not be cramped) that you will fill with fresh water, but not cold, to about two-thirds full.
➡️ You can trim the stems slightly by 1 cm before placing your flowers in water,
➡️ Place your flowers in water, either keeping or removing the tie made by the florist, depending on your preference. Removing the tie will allow the stems to spread out better in the neck of the vase, but it may slightly change the structure of your bouquet.
➡️ Keep your bouquet in a cool place, away from any heat sources and direct sunlight. Some flowers are also sensitive to drafts!
👉 Some flowers require very little water in their vase. This includes bulb flowers such as:
- Lilies
- Amaryllises
- Tulips
- Hyacinths
- Daffodils
- Iris
If your bouquet mainly consists of these flowers, only 3 to 5 cm of fresh water at the bottom of the vase is sufficient. Be sure to top it off every day! This will help your flowers bloom gradually, and your bouquet will last much longer as a result.
On the other hand, some flowers require a lot of water, including:
- Hydrangeas
- Lilacs
- Viburnum…
The Days That Follow
To keep your bouquet looking fresh for as long as possible, it’s important to take care of it. Here are a few tips to help you out:
How to Keep a Tacked Composition in Foam?
You’ve received a floral arrangement made with water-soaked foam, and you’re wondering if there’s anything you can do to extend its lifespan?
I will help you answer this question.
Firstly, make sure to place your arrangement in a suitable location. This means, just like with a bouquet, keep it protected from direct sunlight, heat, drafts, and moisture.
Then, you can add water using a water bottle every two to three days to rehydrate the moss. The moss is highly absorbent: water it gently until it just starts to overflow slightly!
How to Preserve Your Fresh Floral Accessories (Crowns, Bracelets, etc.)?
Often worn for special occasions such as weddings or other types of ceremonies and celebrations, fresh flower accessories require special care. Among them, you can find:
- The flower bracelets
- The floral boutonnieres
- The flower crowns
- Hairpins and combs
- Garlands or small floral decorations
They should be carried out as close as possible to the event for which they are intended, ideally no later than the day before.
To keep them fresh for a night or a few hours, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in the least cold section of your refrigerator.
If this isn’t feasible for you or if you prefer to simplify things, you can also choose decorative accessories and arrangements made with silk flowers.
Discover our wide selection of elegant and bohemian flower crowns that are perfect for any occasion. To explore, visit our specialized online shop now!
A Quick Guide to Flowers That Last in a Vase or Arrangement
To help you keep flowers fresh for a longer time, it can also be useful to know which varieties last well in a vase. Here is a short list of those flowers so you can create a bouquet that you or the recipient can enjoy for a long time:
- The Roses and some similar flowers like the Lisianthus
- Flowers with a thick stem, such as Gerbera or Germini
- Most varieties of chrysanthemums: Santini, Alvéolé…
- Flowers that are easy to dry: Statice, Limonium, Baby’s breath…
- Bulbs: Gladiolus, Lily, Tulip…
- Most exotic flowers: Orchid, Anthurium, Bird of Paradise, Heliconia
- Carnations: Carnation and poetic carnation.
Lisianthus / Gladiolus / Statice
👉 On the other hand, some flowers only last a few days in a vase. This includes wildflowers (like Cosmos, Sweet Peas, and Scabious) as well as Lily of the Valley, which should be purchased on May 1st or the day before for good luck, as it is very short-lived once cut!
Cosmos / Scented Pea / Scabious
Give a fresh flower that lasts forever with eternity roses!
To wrap up this article, I’d like to introduce you to a floral gift that you can enjoy for years without any maintenance, and that captures the natural beauty of fresh flowers: the eternal rose 🌹.
Whether you’re declaring your feelings, showing your affection or friendship, or remembering someone dear to your heart, an eternal rose is the perfect choice.
You can Check them out directly on our online store, and choose from dozens of unique and original designs!
I hope these tips and tricks have helped you take care of your fresh flowers.
If you want to preserve your bouquet as a keepsake, you can try drying your flowers. To learn how to do this, check out this blog post that offers a detailed tutorial on how to dry plants! 😊