There's nothing quite like receiving a fresh bouquet. But how you handle your flowers in the first hour after delivery makes all the difference between blooms that last 3 days and blooms that last 10 or more. Follow this simple guide from our florists at Blooms & Gifts Etcetera to get the most out of your arrangement.
Step 1 — Unpack Immediately
As soon as your flowers arrive, remove all packaging carefully. Flowers can overheat or dehydrate quickly in wrapping, especially in Pretoria's warm climate. If the stems are wrapped in wet paper or a water sachet, that's a good sign — but they still need to be transferred to a vase promptly.
Step 2 — Prepare Your Vase
- Choose a clean vase — bacteria from a dirty vase is one of the biggest causes of early wilting.
- Wash it with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly before use.
- Fill it with cool, fresh water — not warm, not iced. Room temperature or slightly cool is ideal.
- If a flower food sachet was included with your delivery, dissolve it in the water now. It contains sugar (energy), acidifier (to help water travel up the stem), and a biocide (to slow bacteria growth).
Step 3 — Condition the Stems
This is the most important step and the one most people skip.
- Use a sharp, clean knife or floral scissors — never blunt scissors, which crush the stem.
- Cut 2–3 cm off each stem at a 45° angle. The diagonal cut increases the surface area for water uptake.
- Cut under running water or immediately submerge the stem in water after cutting — this prevents an air bubble from blocking the stem.
- Remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline in the vase. Submerged leaves rot quickly and contaminate the water.
Step 4 — Arrange & Display
- Place your flowers in the prepared vase immediately after cutting.
- Avoid direct sunlight — a bright room is fine, but a windowsill in full sun will shorten their life significantly.
- Keep them away from heat sources — air vents, radiators, and appliances generate dry heat that dehydrates blooms.
- Keep them away from ripening fruit — fruit releases ethylene gas, which accelerates flower ageing.
- A cool room is always better than a warm one. If you're going out, move them to a cooler spot.
Step 5 — Daily Maintenance
- Change the water every 2 days — fresh water dramatically slows bacterial growth.
- Re-cut the stems each time you change the water (another 1–2 cm at 45°).
- Top up with fresh cool water daily if the level drops.
- Remove any petals or leaves that are wilting — they release bacteria that affect the healthy blooms.
Specific Tips by Flower Type
- Roses: Remove guard petals (the outer, slightly tatty petals) — they protect the bloom in transit but can be removed once home. Roses love cool conditions.
- Orchids: Don't submerge the roots or base. Orchids in arrangements prefer light misting over heavy watering.
- Lilies: Remove the orange pollen stamens as soon as the flower opens — they stain fabric and surfaces. Lilies are toxic to cats, so keep them out of reach.
- Hatbox arrangements: These are designed as display pieces. Keep the floral foam moist by adding a small amount of water directly into the box every day. Do not submerge.
How Long Should Fresh Flowers Last?
- Mixed bouquets: 7–10 days
- Roses: 7–14 days
- Lilies: 10–14 days (they open gradually)
- Orchid stems: 2–4 weeks
- Hatbox arrangements: 5–7 days
A Note From Our Florists
Every arrangement from Blooms & Gifts Etcetera is made fresh to order and conditioned before delivery. If your flowers arrive damaged or wilted, please WhatsApp us with a photo within 24 hours — we'll make it right.
Enjoyed your bouquet? Leave us a review and let us know how long they lasted — we love hearing from you.