How to care for your fresh cut flowers

Have you ever brought home a beautiful bouquet only to have them die in a few days?

At Camellia we want your blooms to last as long as possible which is why we want to provide you with all of our top tips!

1) Prepare the flowers:

Re-cut the stems at an angle.Use a sharp knife or scissors to make a clean angled cut at the bottom of each stem. This allows for better water absorption 

Remove foliage:

Take off any leaves or foliage that will be submerged in the vase water. Submerged leaves can cause bacteria to grow, clouding the water and shortening the flower's lifespan.

Hydrate flowers:

If possible condition the flowers by placing them in a bucket of water for a few hours after cutting them to allow them to fully hydrate.

2) Water and Vase Care:

Fresh water:

Change the vase water every 1-2 days as bacteria in old water can quickly damage flowers.

Flower Food:

Use the flower food packets that come with your flowers. This provides the flowers with nutrients and helps control bacterial growth. If you do not have flower food you can add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar.

Clean vases:

Use a clean vase to prevent bacterial growth and ensure the flowers have a healthy environment.

3) Environmental factors:

Cool temperatures:

Flowers love the cool temperatures and don't do well with heat, sunlight and drafts.

Avoid fruit:

Keep flowers away from ripening fruit, as fruit emits ethylene gas which can accelerate wilting. 

4) On-going maintenance

Regularly remove wilted blooms 

By removing any dead flowers or leaves this will prevent the spread of decay.

Consider refrigeration:

If you need to store your flowers for a longer period of time you can refrigerate them overnight in a cool, dark place. 

Lastly, consider  misting your flowers with water occasionally to keep them hydrated.