This takes a bit of work and time but will reap rewards!! here's some helpful tips to help keep your beautiful flowers fresher for longer.

Summary

- Re-cut the stems and remove excess foliage.

- Use a floral preservative.

- Keep them cool and avoid drafts, hot spots, and television sets.

- Use a clean vase or container and check the water level daily

First tip - cut them underwater. This prevents air form getting into the stem and stopping the flower from being able to absorb water. If you can't do this, place them immediately in the vase filled with water. In both cases, cut the stems at an angle to allowing maximum exposure to water. Strip all leaves below the line of water in the vase - prevents bacteria growing.

Where to keep your flowers

Two factors affect the longevity of flowers - Heat and light. For example, if you are away from home and want to keep them fresher for longer, place the bouquet in a dark place, ideally a cool room (slows their maturing process). Flowering of buds will accelerate if you place them in warm water and in a warm location for a few hours. In any case, do not place them in direct sunlight or near any heat sources. This will causes them to wilt prematurely.

Keeping your gift fresh

To keep bouquets looking fresher for longer, cut the stems again and change their water daily. If you can, spray the bouquet daily with a cool mist, more often in hot weather.

Lilies and other flowers with large stamens will last longer if the stamen is removed. You can remove the stamen by pinching the ends with your fingers or by cutting them off with sharp scissors. This technique also prevents any falling stamens from staining your furniture or table cloths.

Special notes for roses

Sometimes roses do not open, but the heads just bend over. To straighten them out again, give them a fresh cut on an angle, under water preferably, and then lay the complete flower, including stem, in a tub of water. Leave them there for about an hour or so and then remove them and turn the flower upside down to drain any water out of the head. Following this place them immediately in a vase of fresh water. By doing this, the stems will soak up more water without having to fight the effects of gravity.