How to Make a Bouquet Last Longer: A Florist's Tips
.png)
A beautiful bouquet should last more than a couple of days, and most of the time, a few small habits are the difference between flowers that droop by Wednesday and ones that are still going strong the following week. Here's what we do with every bouquet that leaves our workshop at Weyhill, and what we'd suggest you do the moment yours gets home, plus how long you can realistically expect different flowers to last.
✿ Trim the stems before they go in water
As soon as your bouquet arrives, unwrap it and give every stem a fresh cut, at an angle, using sharp scissors or a knife rather than blunt household scissors. Around two centimetres is enough. Stems seal over within a few hours of being cut, so a fresh cut opens them back up and lets the flowers drink properly.
✿ Use a clean vase and lukewarm water
Any residue left in a vase from previous flowers can shorten the life of a new bouquet, so give it a proper wash with warm soapy water first. Fill it with lukewarm rather than cold water. Most cut flowers actually take up lukewarm water more easily than cold.
✿ Use the flower food that comes with your bouquet
If your bouquet comes with a sachet, use it. It's not just sugar water. It contains a small amount of acid to help the stems keep drinking, and something to slow down the growth of bacteria in the water, which is usually what kills flowers early rather than the flowers themselves running out of energy.
✿ Strip any leaves that would sit below the waterline
Leaves left sitting in water break down quickly and encourage bacteria, which clouds the water and shortens the life of the whole bouquet. Take off anything that would sit below the waterline before you put the stems in.
✿ Change the water every two to three days
Even with flower food, water gets cloudy over time. Every couple of days, tip it out, rinse the vase, and refill with fresh lukewarm water. If you have flower food left over, add a little each time you change the water.
✿ Keep them away from heat and direct sun
A spot on a warm windowsill or above a radiator will age a bouquet fast. Flowers last longest somewhere cool, out of direct sunlight, and away from draughts.
✿ Keep fruit bowls at a distance
Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas, which speeds up how quickly flowers age. It sounds like a small thing, but keeping your bouquet away from the fruit bowl can genuinely add a few extra days.
✿ Re-cut the stems every few days
Every time you change the water, give the stems another small trim. It keeps them taking up water efficiently right through the life of the bouquet, rather than just on day one.
How long different flowers last
Care makes a difference, but it's also worth knowing that some flowers are naturally longer-lived than others, so a bouquet that fades quickly isn't always down to something you've done.
- Roses — typically 5 to 7 days with fresh cuts and regular water changes, sometimes longer for hardier varieties
- Lilies — often the longest-lasting cut flower, commonly 10 to 14 days, especially if you remove the pollen-heavy stamens to stop petals staining
- Carnations — reliably long-lasting, frequently a week to ten days, which is part of why they're used so often in larger arrangements
- Tulips — shorter-lived, usually 5 to 7 days, and they will keep growing and bending toward light in the vase, which is normal rather than a sign anything's wrong
- Gerberas — can be short-lived if the water isn't kept scrupulously clean, as their thick stems are prone to blockages; a fresh cut every couple of days helps considerably
- Sweet peas and other delicate garden flowers — the shortest-lived of the common bouquet flowers, often 3 to 5 days regardless of care, simply because of how delicate the bloom is
If your bouquet is a mix of several of these, expect the more delicate flowers to go over first while the hardier ones carry on. That's normal, not a fault with the bouquet.
✿ Frequently asked questions
How long should a bouquet from a florist last?
Most mixed bouquets last around a week with proper care, though this varies by flower type. Hardier flowers like lilies, carnations and chrysanthemums can last 10 days or more, while delicate blooms like sweet peas may only last 3 to 5 days.
Can I use sugar instead of flower food?
A small amount of sugar in water gives flowers some nutrients, but it also encourages bacteria to grow faster, which can shorten vase life rather than extend it. The sachet that comes with your bouquet is a better bet, as it balances nutrients with something to keep the water cleaner for longer.
Should I use hot or cold water?
Lukewarm water is best for most flowers, as it's absorbed more easily than cold water straight from the tap. The exception is spring bulb flowers like tulips and daffodils, which tend to prefer cooler water.
Why do my flowers wilt within a day or two?
This is usually down to one of three things: stems that weren't re-cut before going into water, a vase that wasn't properly cleaned first, or the bouquet sitting somewhere too warm, in direct sun, or near a bowl of ripening fruit.
Do I need to remove the leaves from the stems?
Yes, any leaves that would sit below the waterline should come off. Left in place, they break down quickly and cloud the water with bacteria, which shortens the life of the whole bouquet.
None of this takes more than a couple of minutes, and it's the difference between a bouquet that's past its best by the weekend and one that's still on the table a week and a half later. If you'd like flowers delivered across Andover and the surrounding villages, browse our latest bouquets, or get in touch and we'll help you choose — order by 2pm and we can often get them to you the same day.