Seasonal flowers, arranged by hand
Notes from the studio / Flower care
How to keep cut flowers fresh for longer
The first day is only the beginning. A few quiet rituals can help your bouquet settle into its new home — and let you enjoy the small changes as each bloom opens.
FLOR journal · 4 minute read
Your daily ritual
Water. Trim. Enjoy.
Check the water each morning, remove fading stems and give the remaining flowers room to breathe.
Before you begin
Set out a clean vase, fresh water and a sharp pair of scissors. Keep the flower-food packet if one came with your bouquet.
Whether you have brought home a loose seasonal posy or received a generous arrangement, the same principle applies: keep the water clean and the flowers comfortable. You do not need a perfectly styled corner. A small table with gentle light is enough.
01 / Give them a clean start
Wash your vase with warm, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly before adding fresh water. A vase that looks clear can still have residue around the rim or base. Starting clean gives your stems a better place to drink.
Choose a vase that supports the bouquet without squeezing it. If the flowers are tightly packed, divide them between two smaller vessels. A few stems on a bedside table can be just as lovely as a full arrangement.
02 / Refresh the stems
Use clean, sharp scissors to take a little off the bottom of each stem. Remove the leaves that would sit below the waterline, then return the flowers to water. Keep the cut gentle and neat rather than crushing the ends.
03 / Find a gentle place
A cool spot away from radiators and strong direct sun is a good home for cut flowers. The window light we love for photographs is different from a hot windowsill all afternoon. Keep your bouquet away from the fruit bowl too.
04 / Tend, rather than forget
Check the water level daily and refresh it when it becomes cloudy. If your bouquet came with flower food, follow the packet directions. Remove any blooms that have finished, so the remaining stems have space and the arrangement stays fresh-looking.
Different flowers open and fade at different speeds. Instead of expecting the bouquet to stay exactly as it arrived, enjoy its changing shape. Shorten a few stems, move the longest branches or gather the last blooms into a little jug.
The last few stems deserve a vase of their own.
A bouquet can become several small arrangements over its life. Let it evolve, and keep the flowers you still love close by.
Looking for something seasonal to bring home? Explore the flowers we are gathering this week.