Keep fresh-cut flowers in a clean vase with enough water to cover the stem ends, remove leaves below the waterline and place the arrangement in a cool part of the room. Check the water each day. Flower type and conditions affect how long a bouquet lasts, so a mixed arrangement will not have one guaranteed vase life.
What should I do when the flowers get home?
Wash the vase with hot, soapy water and rinse it before arranging the flowers. Remove any leaves that would sit under water. Use a clean, sharp cutting tool to trim the stem ends, then put them into water promptly.
If you have commercial flower food, follow the packet's directions for the amount of water in your vase. Plain clean water is the alternative when you do not have any. Avoid adding household remedies to the vase.
How often should I change the water?
Check the water level daily and top it up before the stem ends become exposed. Replace water promptly when it looks cloudy or smells unpleasant. Even when it still looks clear, refresh it every two to four days and trim a little from the stem ends.
Remove fading flowers as they finish so the rest of the arrangement can stay in the vase. If you replace water containing flower food, mix the new water according to the packet's directions again.
Where should I put the bouquet?
Choose a cool spot away from radiators and other heat sources, and keep the flowers away from ripening fruit. A sunny windowsill can heat the vase and flowers. Move the arrangement if the room becomes warm during the day.
For the journey home, keep the container upright and take the flowers indoors promptly. Avoid leaving them in a parked car while you run other errands.
Do all the flowers last the same length of time?
Different flower types age at different rates, even when they share a vase. As individual stems fade, remove them and rearrange the remaining flowers in a smaller clean container if needed. Follow any specific care instructions supplied with your flowers.
This care routine follows guidance from Iowa State University Extension and the Royal Horticultural Society.