This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.
If you’ve been lucky enough to receive one of our hauls, then this fun little Flower Care guide is just for you! We deliver our flowers from the flower markets directly to your door so when you receive your flowers, they will most likely still be in a bud or closed form.
This means that your flowers are very, very fresh and that you’ll get to enjoy them for much longer. Please allow 1-2 days for your flowers to blossom, and follow the steps below to get maximum enjoyment from them.
1. Carefully remove your flowers from their packaging, and remove the hydration wrap from the stems along with any other protective packaging. Rinse the stems well.
2. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP! Using sharp cutters, chop 2-3cm off the bottom of each stem. Chopping off the bottom a little helps your flowers to stay hydrated, and stay fresher for longer. It also helps if you cut the stems on a 45-degree angle – this provides more surface area for the flowers to drink from.
3. Remove all the lower leaves and foliage from around the bottom of the stems (that fall below the waterline). These leaves tend to make the water a bit swampy and smelly, which produces nasty bacteria that decreases the flowers' life.
4. Make sure your vase is squeaky clean (it means less bacteria and a longer vase life for your flowers.) Fill the vase with tap water, usually about two-thirds full. Pop the flowers straight into the vase. Try to replace the vase with new water every couple of days.
5. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight and away from any breezes (fans or windows), heat sources, and bowls of fruit as they really don't like the ethylene gases that fruit emits as it ripens.
Just like in nature, your flowers will naturally blossom and wilt at different times. When any of the petals begins to wilt, pluck them out from the bunch so they don’t spoil the rest.
There are some flowers that are a little more delicate and require specific love and care. These are listed below:
The same general care guidelines above apply to carnations, especially keeping them away from fruit and vegetables! They’re particularly sensitive to ethylene, the naturally produced gas release by fruit and vegetables as they ripen. In addition, always cut a carnation between the nodes (lumpy areas) because the carnation can't drink if it is cut on one of these nodes. Kind of like having something stuck in your straw!
The foliage (green, leafy parts) of chrysanthemums often deteriorate more quickly than the flowers. If the foliage looks droopy or starts to turn a yellow colour, remove it to keep the flowers fresh. But resist the urge to pluck any petals because this has a domino effect on the rest of them! They’re also thirsty flowers so check their water levels often.
The same general care guidelines above apply to gerbera daisies, especially keeping them away from fruit and vegetables! They’re particularly sensitive to ethylene as well. They’re also highly susceptible to the nasty bacteria in dirty water, and they’ll droop quickly if water is not changed regularly.
As the lily buds open, pull off the stamens (the brown dangly things) as soon as it's possible to do so. If you wait too long the pollen appears on the stamens and will leave a turmeric-like stain on the petals. And everything else! If you're a cat-lover, please know that lilies are highly toxic to cats so please keep this in mind while making your flower selection.
You may find that some of the very outer petals on roses or look a little worn out when they arrive. These are actually guard petals that are purposely left on to protect the blooms during transport. Just carefully peel these away before putting them into the vase. Also, recutting your rose stems often will give them the longest vase life.
Tulips don’t need a lot of water. In fact, too much water can shorten their case life. Place fresh tulips in a vase with just enough water to cover the bottom of their stems