Whether you’re brightening up your home, celebrating a special event, or enhancing your business space, fresh flowers from Florists Crystal Palace bring joy and vibrancy. For years, our dedicated team has been providing bespoke floral arrangements throughout Crystal Palace for households, weddings, and businesses. We’re sharing our professional insights so your Florists Crystal Palace flowers stay fresher for longer, allowing you to enjoy their natural beauty to the fullest.
Our experienced florists know precisely what your blooms need to thrive. Here are the foundational steps every recipient should follow upon receiving a bouquet:
1. Unpack and Inspect: As soon as your flowers arrive, carefully remove all packaging. Remove any wilted petals or leaves. If your arrangement comes in a water source, check for freshness and replace the water if cloudy.
2. Trim and Prep: Using sharp, clean scissors, trim 2-3cm from each stem at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area for water absorption and avoids the stems sitting flat on the vase bottom, which can hinder water intake.
3. Remove Lower Leaves: Strip away any leaves that will sit below the waterline in your vase. Leaves left underwater can rot, introducing bacteria that shortens your flowers’ vase life.
4. Use Clean Water and Vase: Start with a thoroughly cleaned vase. Fill it with room-temperature water and, if provided, add the flower food sachet. This helps nourish the blooms and keeps water fresher.
5. Strategic Placement: Display your arrangement away from direct sunlight, heating vents, or draughts. Fresh fruit can emit ethylene gas that speeds up flower ageing, so keep your bouquet away from fruit bowls.
By following these steps, you’re laying a strong foundation for long-lasting flowers from Florists Crystal Palace.
The skilled team at Florists Crystal Palace has compiled tried-and-tested flower care methods guaranteed to extend the enjoyment of your arrangement:
Regular Water Changes: Change the vase water at least every two days. Before refilling, rinse and clean the vase thoroughly to remove any bacteria build-up. Re-cut the stems each time before placing them back in the fresh water.
Flower Food Formula: Flower food is formulated to nourish blooms and inhibit bacterial growth. If your bouquet didn’t come with food, you can make a homemade version by dissolving a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of bleach or lemon juice in a litre of water. This supplies energy while keeping the water clean.
Stems to Watch: Certain flowers, like tulips and sunflowers, grow and bend towards light. Rotate your vase daily for even development. Roses benefit from stem slitting; cut upwards into the stem base to help them drink more, and remove any excess outer “guard” petals.
Dealing with Drooping: If any stems appear wilted, remove them from the bouquet, trim, and place in fresh water separately. For flowers like hydrangeas, submerge the heads in water for 20-30 minutes to encourage rehydration.
Remove Fading Stems: Snip out flowers as soon as they start to droop. This stops bacterial transfer and keeps the rest of your bouquet fresh.
Seasonal changes in Crystal Palace affect flower longevity and care. Each time of year brings its own challenges and opportunities – our florists offer these targeted tips:
Spring: Many spring flowers, like daffodils and hyacinths, release sap that can affect other blooms. Condition them separately in water for 6 hours before mixing into arrangements. Warmer weather means water can spoil faster; change more frequently during a spring heatwave.
Summer: Keep flowers cool and shielded from harsh sunlight. Take extra care to replenish water, as evaporation increases. Mist delicate flowers, like orchids and lilies, with a water spray to maintain humidity.
Autumn: Maintain regular water changes and be mindful of central heating, which dries air and accelerates wilting. Change the vase location to a cooler spot if needed. Hardy autumn blooms like chrysanthemums are more forgiving, but sensitive varieties benefit from morning water changes.
Winter: Avoid placing flowers near radiators, fireplaces or heaters. Dry air can sap moisture, so monitor vase levels closely. Amaryllis and poinsettia (with care around pets) are winter stars, but all blooms appreciate mineral-rich, room-temperature water in the colder months.
Beyond the basics, our expert Florists Crystal Palace share insider hacks that keep flowers thriving for longer:
Double Up the Vases: For large, heavy arrangements, consider splitting them into two smaller vases. This allows each stem more space and water, ensuring better hydration and less overcrowding.
Penny in the Vase: Adding a clean copper coin can help keep water fresher and inhibit bacteria. This traditional florist’s trick is especially useful for tulips and daffodils.
Aspirin Aid: Dropping a crushed aspirin tablet into vase water can help maintain pH levels, offering another barrier against bacteria that shortens vase life.
Wired Support: For delicate or top-heavy stems (such as peonies and gerberas), use invisible floral wire to support them, reducing breakage and premature drooping.
Nighttime Care: If you can, move your flowers to a cool area at night, such as a porch or cool hallway. The lower temperature slows water loss and extends freshness.
Florists Crystal Palace serves not only homes but also local weddings and businesses, each requiring special flower care attention:
Wedding Flowers: Keep bouquets and arrangements in water as long as possible before the ceremony. After major events, re-cut and redistribute stems into several vases to enjoy for days after.
Business Displays: Reception and office flowers are exposed to heat and air conditioning. Encourage daily water checks, and schedule weekly vase deep-cleans to eliminate hidden bacteria.
Households: Assign a family member or housemate as your “flower guardian.” Regular care, as outlined above, does wonders for both the life and appearance of your arrangement.
Caring for flowers is more than just practical—it’s a way of preserving beauty, mood, and atmosphere in your space. At Florists Crystal Palace, our florists are passionate about providing not only exquisite floral designs but also expert guidance to ensure your arrangements stay radiant. Trust in our local experience, and these time-honoured tips, whether your flowers grace your home, brighten a business, or celebrate life’s milestones.
For more advice or personal recommendations on how to care for Flowers Florists Crystal Palace, stop by our shop for a chat with our skilled team. We believe that with a little knowledge and attentive care, every bouquet can become a lasting treasure in your home or workplace.
Please fill out the form below to send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
