Flower care tips – how to keep your bouquet fresh longer

Step 1 – When the bouquet arrives

What you do in the first few minutes makes a big difference to the flowers’ lifespan. If you’ve just received a delivery after ordering flowers online, you should act quickly.

• Unpack immediately. Never leave flowers in plastic or paper longer than necessary – they need air and water as soon as possible.
• Cut the stems. Cut off 2–3 cm at a 45-degree angle. The diagonal cut provides a larger surface for water uptake. Do this under running water or with stems submerged – it prevents air bubbles from blocking the water-conducting vessels.
• Remove leaves below the water line. Leaves that sit in water rot quickly and create bacteria that clog the stems.
• Add flower food. If a nutrient sachet is included, use it. It contains sugar (nutrients), citric acid (lowers pH) and an antibacterial substance.

Step 2 – Correct placement

Where you place your flowers makes a big difference to their longevity:

• Cool and shady. Flowers last longer at low temperatures – around 18–20 °C is ideal. Avoid sunny windowsills.
• Away from heat sources. Heaters, cookers and electronics emit heat that speeds up wilting.
• Away from fruit. Ripe fruit releases ethylene gas – a natural substance that accelerates ageing in flowers. Keep the vase away from fruit bowls and baskets.
• Avoid draughts. Cold air currents (for example from an open window or air conditioning) stress the flowers.
• Cool nights extend the lifespan. Move the bouquet to a cooler room at night – this slows the metabolism and helps the flowers last longer.

Step 3 – Daily care

• Change the water every other day. Dirty water is the most common reason flowers don’t last long. Clean the vase each time you change the water.
• Trim the stems with every water change. Cut an extra 1 cm – the water-conducting vessels can become blocked by biofilm and bacteria over time.
• Remove wilted flowers. Dead blooms release ethylene and speed up the wilting of the fresh flowers still in the bouquet.

Want to send flowers to someone you care about? With proper care, the bouquet will stay beautiful for many days.

Specific tips for different flowers

Roses

• Always cut at an angle (45 degrees) – never straight across.
• Remove every thorn and any foliage that falls below the waterline.
• Are the roses wilting? Wrap them in damp newspaper and lay them in a bath of cool water for 30–60 minutes. They often revive.

Tulips

• Cut straight across – tulips do better without an angled cut.
• Cold water is best for tulips.
• Tulips continue to grow in the vase – the stems can get 5–10 cm longer. Choose a deep vase with support.
• A copper coin in the water slows bacterial growth.

Lilies

• Remove the stamens (the yellow, pollen-bearing parts) straight away – pollen causes stains and can also trigger allergies.
• Lilies open gradually. The buds don’t all bloom at the same time.
• Important: Lilies are not recommended around cats. Keep them out of reach of pets.

Sunflowers

• Sunflowers are thirsty – refill their water often.
• They like a bit more light than most other flowers – a bright room (but without direct sunlight) is good.

You can easily order flowers such as roses, tulips and sunflowers online – read more in our guide to sending flowers.

The secret behind flower food

The little sachet of flower food that comes with a bouquet contains three active ingredients: sugar (nutrition for the flowers), citric acid (lowers the pH in the water and inhibits bacterial growth) and a biocide (bacteria-killing substance). The result is that the flowers last considerably longer – often twice as long compared to plain water alone.

If you don’t have flower food, you can make a simple homemade substitute: 1 tablespoon sugar + 1 teaspoon household vinegar + 1 litre of water.

Can you revive wilted flowers?

Sometimes! If the flowers look tired and droopy, but aren’t completely dead, you can try this:

• Place them in a deep bath with cold water for 30–60 minutes – preferably with the entire flower submerged.
• Cut the stems well and then place them in fresh water with flower food.
• Place them somewhere cool (for example a cold bathroom) for 2–3 hours.

It doesn’t work every time, but it’s often worth a try. Want to send flowers to someone who needs encouragement? See our selection of flowers online with delivery throughout Ireland.