Floral designers want the flowers in their arrangements to stay in good shape as long as possible; Caring For Your Fresh Flowers upon receipt. During transit from growers, your flowers have been without water in a state of “suspended animation” for many hours.

Your roses are thirsty and need to drink water for 8-12 hours to perk up. With proper care, your roses will bloom over the next few days.

Take these simple steps to Caring For Your Fresh Flowers upon receipt;

• Prepare clean vases or containers and clean, sharp, utensils such as clippers, shears or knives. Never use ordinary household scissors as they will crush the stems and prevent proper hydration.
• Prepare lukewarm water (100° – 110° F) and add your flower food. We recommend chrysal. If your tap water is very soft or very hard, use spring water.
• Re-cut the flower stems to enable absorption of water. If possible, cut under water or under running water. Cut at least one inch from the bottom of the stem at a 45-degree angle. Remove all foliage that will be under the vase or container water line to delay bacteria growth.
• Immediately place the flowers into the prepared water without overcrowding them. Store them at room temperature and away from direct sunlight to let them drink and recover. This process may take up to 12 hours. If any stems still appear wilted, re-cut following the above directions.
• If you want to slow the re-hydrating & blooming process for a day or two, use cool water and store flowers in a cool, dark place (Do not store in a refrigerator).
• If you are using floral foam material, thoroughly saturate it in water and floral preservative. Place your vase or arrangement away from heat, drafts, and direct sunlight. Do not let your arrangement dry out!

Change the water every two to three days or when it becomes cloudy. It is best to clean the vase and re-cut the stems.