Sometimes when you purchase flower bouquets, you don’t use them right away. You may have bought them to give away the next day, or have planned to use them much later in the day to decorate your home. Whatever the reason, cut flower bouquets (not in vases or wet foam/sponge) that aren’t used as soon as you get them home should not be left bound together tightly, in cellophane wrapping. This is the way your Toronto florist packages the flowers so that they may be conveniently transported home, arranged in a visibly appealing manner that allows you to simply place them in a vase without much fuss. It is not the way you should store the flowers, since keeping them tied up in cellophane is one of the fastest ways to make your flower bouquet wilt.
1. As soon as you bring the bouquet home, unwrap the packaging it’s in and take off any ribbon, elastic band, or anything else that’s holding the flowers and greenery together. Just doing this frees the blooms, allowing them to get enough air.
If you plan on giving the flower bouquet to someone, remember to keep all of the packaging so that you can rewrap the flowers to present to your recipient. It’s a good idea to take a photo of the bouquet in its original condition so that you can arrange it again in the same manner at a later time.
2. Cut each flower stem and green garnish on an angle so that a larger surface area is exposed to water.
3. Trim leaves and foliage on the lower part of the stems.
4. Mix the flower food with fresh water in a clean vase or container, and place the flowers in it.
Now, the cut flowers have plenty of fresh water and air to survive longer, patiently waiting for you to use them!
