It's particularly disappointing when you watch a beautiful bouquet wilt after just a few days. While the lifespan of cut flowers depends partly on how fresh they are when they arrive, a few simple care techniques can help keep blooms looking their best for longer.
If you're starting with a bouquet from Bunches' summer collection, the company backs its flowers with a seven-day freshness guarantee. Combine that with the tips below and you'll give your flowers the best chance of staying vibrant for days to come.
Tips to keep flowers fresh for longer
Mistake 1: Not starting with the freshest flowers possible
While you can follow all of the tips below, it's undeniable that your flowers need to arrive fresh for optimal longevity.
Bunches backs its bouquets with a seven-day freshness guarantee and they are all delivered in bud. If your flowers don't arrive in the condition you'd expect, the company promises a straightforward refund process.
Bunches Pick - Florentina Bouquet
Delivered in bud, this bouquet is designed to gradually open over the days following arrival, helping you enjoy the display for longer.
Mistake 2: Displaying your flowers next to fruit
As fruit ripens, it releases ethylene gas that tricks flowers into thinking their lifecycle is complete. With this in mind, keep your bouquets away from fruit to avoid premature ageing.
Mistake 3: Neglecting the stems
Flowers absorb water through tiny pathways inside their stems. After harvesting, transporting and handling, the bottom of these stems can become blocked by: bacteria, air bubbles and natural plant debris.
Cutting the stems opens the pathways and allows flowers to hydrate properly. This means they will display brighter blooms, last longer and maintain stronger stems.
Make sure you trim the stems at an angle, which creates a larger surface area for absorption and prevents the stems from sitting at the bottom of the vase, reducing blockage and bacteria build up.
Mistake 4: Reusing vases
Always put your flowers in a clean vase as bacteria can harm your flower's health.
To clean your vase, wash with detergent and a scrub with a brush.
Bunches Pick - Summer Brights Bouquet
Once you've given your flowers a clean vase, vibrant arrangements such as the Summer Brights Bouquet can really shine, allowing the colours and blooms to take centre stage.
Mistake 5: Keeping flowers somewhere too warm
Low heat reduces respiration rates, meaning flowers use up their energy reserves at a slower pace. Cooler water also promotes less bacterial growth, which could hinder hydration.
Mistake 6: Forgetting the flower food
Dissolve food in the water before you put your flowers in the vase.
Flower food is anti bacterial, but do ensure you're using the recommended amount of water. Too little water can make the mixture too strong, which could lead to the stems being damaged.
Bunches Pick - Summer Sunshine Luxe
Long-lasting Carnations and Spray Carnations are known for their impressive vase life, and with proper flower care can continue looking vibrant for days.
Mistake 7: Forgetting daily maintenance
Re-cut your stems daily to encourage hydration, refresh the water to reduce bacteria and remove rotting leaves to avoid decay spread.
Why many gardeners choose Bunches
Many of the company's flowers are sourced from Floverde Sustainable Flowers-certified farms, which promote responsible water use, lower emissions and sustainable growing practices.
Bunches also uses:
- Fully compostable flower-food packaging
- Recyclable and compostable paper wrapping
- Recyclable and compostable hydration pots designed to help flowers stay fresh during transit
You can also earn rewards through the Posy Points loyalty scheme, collecting points on purchases that can grant discounts on future orders.
Looking for flowers that will stay looking fresher for longer? From pastel Carnations to vibrant summer arrangements delivered in bud, discover bouquets backed by a 7-day freshness guarantee.
