How to Make Your Flowers Last Twice as Long

Your flowers arrive. They’re perfect. Three days later, the petals soften, the stems droop, the water turns cloudy. You wonder: did I do something wrong?

Probably not. You probably didn’t realise that the biggest enemy of fresh flowers isn’t a lack of water. It’s bacteria.

When a stem is cut, it releases sugars. Bacteria love sugar. They multiply in the water, move into the stem, and clog the tiny tubes that carry water to the flower. You add fresh water, but the water can’t travel. The flower droops not because it’s thirsty — but because the path is blocked.

The goal isn’t just to add water. It’s to keep the stem clear.

1. Change the water — don’t just top it up

Every two days, empty the vase, rinse it clean, and refill with fresh water. Don’t wait until it looks cloudy. Bacteria grow before you see them.

2. Cut the stems — don’t just leave them

Each time you change the water, trim 1–2 cm off the bottom. Cut at a 45-degree angle. This gives more surface area for water uptake and removes the part already clogged.

3. Place them right — don’t just put them anywhere

Keep flowers away from fruit (the ethylene gas speeds wilting). Away from direct sun, air conditioners, and heaters. A cool, shaded spot is where they last longest.

If you’ve been busy and the flowers are already drooping — the trick from our first flower care post still works:

Trim 2–3 cm off the bottom.

Dip the cut ends in warm water for a few seconds to help them take in water again.

Place them in a clean vase of fresh, cool water. Put them in a cool, shaded spot.

In a few hours, you’ll see them lift.

But rescue is a fix. Prevention is what makes them last.

If you have flower food (available at most florists, usually a few dollars), follow the packet instructions. Flower food does two things at once: it feeds the flowers and keeps the water clean.

If you don’t have flower food, a single drop of household bleach will help kill bacteria — but it won’t feed the flowers. Think of bleach as a quick fix. Flower food is the proper way.

One note: don’t overdo it. A single drop is enough. Too much bleach will damage the stems.

When a bouquet leaves us, we’ve already conditioned it — trimmed stems, removed leaves that would sit below the waterline, and added preservative. If you’d like some flower food to take home, just add it when you order. We’ll tuck it in with your bouquet.

If you’re thinking of sending flowers that will last — something your mum can enjoy for more than a few days — our Mother’s Day collection comes with conditioning and a little card that reminds her how to keep them fresh.