You’ve ordered or received a fantastic flower bouquet gift; how do you keep it looking great for an extended period? Flowers are a great addition to your home or office. They can add an irresistible charm, but only if they look fresh and lively. With online services like Panda Flowers, you can effortlessly make your order, enjoy same-day delivery, and receive fresh-looking and smelling flowers. Now that you’ve got a perfect bouquet, it helps if you take the proper measures to care for the flowers and keep them looking good for long. Here are a few straightforward flower care tips to get you started.

The vase

Not every vase is suitable for each flower bouquet. Considering the height and mouth helps. Ideally, pick a vase with a height half that of your flowers. As you consider the mouth, look at your bouquet; if it is heavy, go with a narrower vase to offer enough support. Pick a vase with a wider mouth if the bouquet features a huge top. Once you’ve selected the vase, ensure it is clean before introducing the flowers. Clean it and allow it to air dry. Wiping with a towel is tempting, but that could introduce bacteria that speed up the decay.

The water

Fill two-thirds of your vase with water, and let the air bubbles escape. Clean, lukewarm water is the go-to since cold or hot water can shock the flowers. If the bouquet comes with flower feed, add it to the water. You can also make DIY flower food using lemon juice, bleach, and sugar. The bleach helps slow bacteria and algae growth, while sugar feeds the flowers, keeping them fresh. You should also change the water daily or immediately after noticing it turning cloudy.

Preparing the flowers

Don’t just unwrap the bouquet and put the flowers in the vase. Cut the bottom stems, ideally 2-3cm from the bottom. Use a sharp knife and cut at a 45-degree angle. Scissors might not be a great tool, especially if they are blunt, since they can crush the stem, affecting the water uptake. The angle helps water uptake by increasing the surface area since the stems won’t rest on the vase. Also, look at the leaves and cut any below the waterline. Grab your scissors for this; removing the leaves ensures less decomposition in the vase as it could increase bacteria growth, speeding decay that deteriorates the flowers fast.

Placement

You can be tempted to pace the flowers close to the window, especially considering that amazing view when the light hits. However, this will only speed up the wilting due to heat. Also, avoid placing the flowers close to air conditioning vents since the warm air can dry them. Another tempting placement concern to avoid is close to ripe fruits, especially apples. Fruits produce ethylene gas which deteriorates the cut flowers. Pick a cool spot; it helps keep the flowers looking fresh for more days.

Your fresh bouquet from Panda Flowers is a little thirsty. With the above pointers, you can give them a drink and keep them in top shape for longer, brightening your space.