• If you are picking your own flowers, it is best to do this early in the morning or the late evening as sugar reserves in the stems are at their highest during these time frames. If it has been raining and the flowers are wet, shake them gently to remove the excess water. Too much water will often damage flowers – especially delicately petaled flowers.
• After you pick the flowers from the garden or received them from the grower flash, submerge the stems in sink of water.  Cut the flowers under water to prevent air bubbles from entering the stem.  Cut the stems at least 1" from the stem at a 45-degree angle. This angled cut creates more surface area which improves the flower’s ability to drink up water.  If you received the flowers from the florist, you don’t need to re-cut the flowers.
• Always use clean vases or containers. This will prevent any bacteria from ruining the quality of the flowers.
• Remove all of the leaves which will be under the water while in the vase. Leaves that are submerged will rot, thus creating bacteria and shortening the life span of your flowers.
• Make sure that your vase is leak proof and that it has a neck which is big enough for the flowers to fit comfortably.
• Always add the cut flower food supplied to you by your floral provider, to the water in the vase. Change the water and flower food every day. An example to an alternative to plant food would be add a few drops of household bleach to the flower water to guard against the slime caused by bacteria and a spoonful of sugar. Another alternative to plant food is take two non-coated aspirins and put them in your vase with water.
• Never place the flowers full sun and away from heat, radiator, and drafts. This will cause excess water loss from the flowers, and they will wilt very quickly.
• For a maximum life span the best place for your flowers is in a cool room or in the fridge overnight while you are asleep.
• Remove any dying flowers immediately. Dying flowers emit ethylene gas that will cause the other, healthy flowers to wilt.
• Use a transparent color straw to fix or stabilize any broken or drooping stems.
• For more flowers tips, please visit our flower tips and life and watering sections.

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