Fresh flowers are living things. Once they are cut, their only lifeline is how well they can absorb water and how clean that environment stays. Most flowers don’t die suddenly. They fade because bacteria builds up, stems clog, or petals break down from too much moisture or heat.
Here’s how to look after your flowers properly, and why each step makes a real difference.
1. Change the water regularly
Every 1 to 2 days is ideal
The moment flowers sit in water, bacteria starts to grow. Cloudy water is a sign that bacteria levels are already high, even if the flowers still look fine. That bacteria blocks the stem’s ability to drink, which is why flowers can look limp even when the vase is full.
If you’re short on time and can’t change the water daily, add flower food, or about two drops of bleach. This slows bacterial growth and keeps the water clearer for longer.
If your roses droop after two days despite having water, it’s often not dehydration. It’s dirty water clogging the stems.
2. Keep the vase clean
Wash the vase every time you change the water
A quick rinse isn’t enough. Residue from old water and bacteria clings to the inside of the vase and immediately contaminates fresh water.
Use dish soap and warm water, especially for narrow-neck vases where slime builds up easily.
Clean water in a dirty vase becomes dirty water within hours.
3. Re-trim stems every few days
Remove about 0.5 cm each time
As stems sit in water, the cut ends slowly seal over. Re-trimming exposes fresh tissue, allowing flowers to absorb water more efficiently.
Cut straight across or at a slight angle using sharp scissors or a knife. Avoid crushing the stem.
Hydrangeas and tulips are especially sensitive to blocked stems. A small re-trim can bring them back from looking tired.
4. Remove wilted flowers and leaves promptly
Dying flowers release bacteria and ethylene gas, which accelerates the ageing of the rest of the arrangement. Leaves sitting below the waterline also rot quickly, contaminating the water.
If one flower in the bouquet collapses early, remove it instead of leaving it “just in case.”
5. Keep flowers away from heat, direct sunlight and wind
Heat causes flowers to transpire faster, meaning they lose moisture quicker than they can replace it. Sunlight speeds up blooming, and strong airflow dries petals and stems.
Examples:
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Avoid placing flowers near windows, stoves or ovens
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Air-conditioning vents and fans can shorten vase life
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Car dashboards are one of the fastest ways to kill flowers
6. Do not mist the flowers
Misting feels nurturing, but for most fresh flowers it does more harm than good. Water sitting on petals causes bruising, spotting and rot, especially for roses, ranunculus and peonies.
Flowers drink through their stems, not their petals.
Constant surface moisture creates the perfect environment for fungal growth and petal breakdown.
7. Keep flowers away from ripening fruit
Ripening fruits release ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that speeds up blooming and wilting. This is why flowers placed near bananas or apples often open quickly and collapse just as fast.
A bouquet on the dining table will last longer than one placed near a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter.
Final thoughts
Caring for flowers isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things consistently. Clean water, clean tools and the right environment will always matter more than extra sprays or “hacks.”
When flowers are looked after properly, they don’t just last longer. They age more beautifully too.