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Short answer: cut about two centimetres off each stem at an angle, stand the flowers in clean cool water, change that water every two days, and keep the vase out of direct sun and away from the air conditioning. Those four habits alone keep a bouquet looking its best for four to seven days.
The first ten minutes
Most of what decides a bouquet's lifespan happens as soon as it arrives. The stems have been out of water on the way to you, and the flowers need to drink straight away.
- Unwrap the bouquet and remove any tie pressing on the stems.
- Fill a vase about a third full with clean, cool water.
- Trim roughly two centimetres off each stem at an angle. The angled cut stops the stem sealing itself against the base of the vase and gives it more surface to drink through.
- Strip every leaf that would sit below the waterline — submerged leaves break down and cloud the water within a day.
If your flowers arrived as a ready vase arrangement, leave the design alone. Just check the water level and find it a good spot.
Every two days: change the water
Cloudy water, not room temperature or flower type, is the most common reason a bouquet fades early. Empty the vase, rinse it properly, refill with cool water, and take another half centimetre off the stems each time.
If a sachet of flower food came with the bouquet, dissolve it in the first fill. If there isn't one, fresh clean water beats any home remedy.
Where to put it
- Out of direct sunlight, and off the top of a TV or anything that radiates heat.
- Away from air conditioning and heaters — moving air dries petals quickly.
- Away from the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit makes blooms open and drop faster.
- Somewhere with a steady temperature, in view, and out of the way of passing elbows.
Care by flower
Roses
If rose heads droop early, an air bubble in the stem is usually to blame. Recut the stem under running water and return it to the vase immediately. Gently peel away tired outer petals and the bouquet looks tight again.
Lilies
Lilies normally arrive in bud and open over two to three days — that is deliberate, and it is what makes them last. As each flower opens, lift out the orange anthers with a tissue; the pollen stains fabric badly.
Sunflowers
Thick stems drink a lot, so check the water level daily rather than every other day. They are also top-heavy, so use a vase with a steady base.
Gypsophila (baby's breath)
It lasts longer than almost anything else in the bouquet and dries beautifully. When the rest is finished, lift it out and hang it upside down somewhere shaded.
Why bouquets fade early
- Water left unchanged for more than three days.
- Leaves left sitting below the waterline.
- A vase that wasn't washed properly after the last bouquet.
- A spot that catches midday sun or the draught from an air conditioner.
Our flowers are made to order in Amman on the day they are delivered, so they reach you at the start of their life rather than the end. Coverage and timings are on the delivery page, and if anything arrives in poor condition, send us a photo within 24 hours.
If you want the arrangement that needs the least looking after, choose vase arrangements, which arrive standing in their own water — or rose bouquets if you know the recipient has a vase they love.
Quick answers
How long will the bouquet last?
Four to seven days with the care described above. Cool weather extends it; summer heat and air conditioning shorten it.
Should I add sugar or bleach to the water?
No. Home remedies do more harm than good — clean water changed every two days beats all of them.
Should I put the flowers in the fridge overnight?
There is no need. A cool spot away from sun and air conditioning is enough, and a household fridge holds fruit, which makes flowers open and fade faster.
