Keeping flowers fresh for longer starts with a few simple steps you can take at home straight away. With the right care, a hand-tied bouquet stays beautiful for days longer. Our florists share their best tips, from cutting the stems to the perfect spot in your home.
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The basics: give your flowers a good start
- Cut the stems at an angle. Use a clean, sharp knife or scissors to take about 2 to 3 cm off the stem. An angled cut increases the surface, so the flower takes up water better.
- Use a clean vase. Bacteria clog the stems. Wash the vase with a little washing-up liquid and rinse well.
- Fill with clean, lukewarm water. Lukewarm water is absorbed faster than ice-cold water.
- Add the flower food sachet. Every bouquet comes with cut flower food; it feeds the flowers and slows bacterial growth.
- Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in the water rot and spoil the water.
The right spot
Where you put a bouquet makes a big difference. Avoid these spots:
- Full sun and heat. Next to a radiator or in bright sun, flowers wilt quickly.
- Draughts. An open window or door dries the flowers out.
- The fruit bowl. Ripe fruit gives off ethylene gas, which makes flowers age faster.
A cool spot out of direct sunlight is ideal. Putting them in a cooler room at night makes them last even longer.
Care during the week
- Change the water every 2 to 3 days and add a little flower food again.
- Trim the stems every time you change the water; half a centimetre is enough.
- Remove faded flowers so the rest stay beautiful for longer.
Tips by flower type
Not every flower needs the same care. A few varieties in the spotlight:
- Tulips keep growing in the vase and bend towards the light. Keep them upright and don't use too much water.
- Roses that droop can often be saved: recut the stem and lay them fully in lukewarm water for a while.
- Hydrangea also drinks through the flower head; mist the bloom when it starts to droop.
- Sunflowers drink a lot, so keep a close eye on the water level.
Why fresh flowers last longer
The fresher the flower when you buy it, the longer you can enjoy it. We buy fresh every day at the Royal FloraHolland flower auction in Rijnsburg, often that very morning. That is why we give a 6-day freshness guarantee: if your bouquet doesn't stay beautiful for at least six days, we will put it right. Take a look at bouquets or choose fresh flowers at home all the time with a flower subscription.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change the water?
Every 2 to 3 days. Use clean, lukewarm water, add some cut flower food again and trim the stems a little.
Does a coin or sugar in the water really help?
The sachet of cut flower food that comes with the bouquet works best: it combines food with an agent that slows bacterial growth. Household tricks such as sugar actually feed the bacteria too.
Why do my flowers droop so quickly?
Usually because of an air bubble in the stem or dirty water. Recut the stems at an angle under the tap and put them in clean water in a cool spot.
How long do flowers from Bloei stay beautiful?
We give a 6-day freshness guarantee. Because we buy fresh every day at Royal FloraHolland Rijnsburg, our bouquets often last even longer with good care.
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