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- Choose your vase carefully, considering the final length of the stems and the width of the vase neck. If you have a hand-tied bouquet, will you keep it tied, or cut the string tie to provide a looser shape?
- You could use a jug or teapot for your flowers. Or perhaps a series of bottles or jars, grouped together. Don’t be afraid to cut long-stemmed flowers short to suit your vase.
- Make sure the containers are clean – any residual dirt will encourage bacteria which reduce the life of flowers.
- Trim the stems at an angle by at least an inch (2.5cm). This gives a bigger surface area for the flowers to take up water and ensures the stems are not blocked by resting on the bottom of the vase.
- Remove all leaves below the water line. Leaves rot quickly in water, causing bacteria to form.
- Keep the flowers cool and out of direct sunlight.
- Use flower food, and change the water regularly.
- Remove any faded flowers as they occur – some flower species last longer than others.
