Top Tips for Maximum Vase Life

Probably one of the most frequent questions our customers ask us, is how to get the maximum vase life out of their blooms.

We have shared our Top Tips below, but I want to make some important initial (and hopefully re-assuring!) points:

Firstly, we carefully choose the varieties we grow based on many attributes, and vase life is one of our priorities. So your blooms will anyway have a pre-disposition to want to last longer in the vase.

Secondly, we use all our plant knowledge to ensure that we promote long life as we cut and prepare each stem for your arrangement.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, our stems will have been freshly cut close to the date you receive them. Unlike stems that have been imported, or bought from supermarkets, they have not been on a long journey, been sprayed with preservatives or put in refrigerated storage, before you buy them (Yes that really is what most stems go through before they get to you!). Their natural freshness will help to give them a longer vase life.

All that being said, you can have an impact on how long your blooms last. With the right treatment, our stems will last for at least 5-7 days, often twice as long.

So here they are, our Top Tips for Maximum Vase Life:

#1. Water, Water, Water

It seems obvious, but water is going to be key to your stems' performance. As soon as they are cut from the plant, stems need a constant supply of water, to mimic what they have lost. Make sure your stems go into water as soon as possible after purchase. Then renew the water every 2-3 days. Water can be from the tap or a water butt, and shouldn't be very cold.

#2. Cool Placement

Of course you’ll want to put your gorgeous blooms in an aesthetically pleasing place, but make sure it’s NOT in direct sunlight, preferably in a cooler spot or room. All flowers will wilt very quickly if they are too hot or in direct sunlight, even if you are doing everything else right. Also make sure you don’t have your bouquet near to a fruit bowl - ripening fruit releases a gas which will “ripen” anything else around it - flowers included!

#3. Stem Cutting

Your stems will not need to be cut again when you first receive them, as they will already be very fresh. However, it is a good idea to re-cut the stems after a few days, to refresh their capacity to take up water and nutrition. When cutting, use a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs and make one, clean, slight-diagonal cut to each stem. It’s not necessary to cut a lot off, but if you fancy changing up the look, why not cut some stems shorter, to give your arrangement a new dimension!!

#4. Deadhead

We know this may sound a little weird when it comes to bouquets, but this really is good advice for any flowers which have a spray (several flower heads on a stem). Some flowers we use, such as dahlias, rudbeckia, chrisanthemums and roses, have several buds on a stem, and will open one at a time, which creates beautiful progression through the vase life of the bouquet. So if one flower head is spent, make sure to snip it off as far down the stem as you can, to encourage the next bud to open quicker - you’ll also keep the bouquet neat and tidy this way too.

#5. No Foliage in the Water

This is just one to keep an eye on - especially as you cut the stems. Make sure that there is no foliage below the water line. Strip off any leaves that will be below the water line when you cut the stems. Any foliage left in the water, will quickly turn slimy and release damaging bacteria into the water.

#6. Clean Your Vases

A dirty vase can also make the water slimy, so ensure you clean your vase (or jam jar, jug or favourite vessel) both before and after you've had your blooms in it.

So there you have it - everything you need to know about maximising vase life. And it's definitely worth the effort - the blooms don't ask for much really, and in return you'll have a stunning centrepiece for as long as possible. Well worth it we think!