How to make a bouquet last two weeks

A bouquet from us is cut and conditioned the morning it is delivered, so it starts with a week of life in it. Whether it gets a second week is mostly down to what happens in the first hour at home.

Recut the stems straight away

Stems seal over within an hour of leaving water. Take two centimetres off each one with a sharp knife or scissors, at an angle, and get them into water immediately. Crushed stems, from blunt scissors, drink badly.

Start with a clean vase

Wash the vase with hot soapy water and rinse it well. Most early wilting is bacteria, not age, and a vase that looked clean last month is carrying plenty.

Keep leaves out of the water

Anything below the waterline rots. Strip the lower leaves before the bouquet goes in, and pick out anything that drops later.

Change the water every other day

Top-ups are not enough. Pour it all out, rinse the vase, refill with cool water and give the stems another small trim. It takes two minutes and it is the single biggest difference.

Find a cool spot

Flowers age fastest in heat and near fruit, which gives off ethylene. A windowsill in direct sun or a spot beside the fruit bowl will take days off. A hallway is ideal.

If anything still fades inside seven days, send us a photo. Our freshness promise means we replace the bouquet.