Cut flowers that die early do not die because they were poor quality. They die because of what happens in the first ten minutes after they arrive home.

A few simple steps, most of which take less than two minutes and make a big difference to how long your flowers last. This is the only flower care guide you need. We’re also giving you the heads up on those TikTok told me hacks including pennies, aspirin, vodka, lemonade. We’ll save you the Google search.

Step One: Cut the stems immediately

The single most important thing you can do when your flowers arrive is cut the stems before they go anywhere near a vase.

Using the sharpest knife or secateurs you can find and trim the bottom of the stem (about 2-3 cm up) at a 45 degree angle.

Avoid using scissors as they crush the water channels inside the stem rather than slicing cleanly through them, which may restricts the flowers ability to drink water.

If the stems have been out of water for a period of time, an air bubble will form blocking any water uptake. For this reason, at FLOWERFIX always send your flowers with our special hydration pouch.

Reminder, flowers need a little trim every two to three days throughout the life of the bouquet. Regular trimming keeps water flowing to the flower.

Step Two: Use a clean vase with cool water

Preparation is key. Start with washing your vase with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Why? Any bacteria in your vase will affect the longevity of new bouquet from the moment they go in.

Fill your vase 2/3 full with cool, fresh water (not ice cold and not warm). Room temperature or slightly cool is ideal for most flowers. The exception is spring bulb flowers like tulips and hyacinths, where prefer really cold water is preferred.

Add the flower food sachet that came with your order. Why? Flower food contains three things: sugar to feed the stem, an acidifier to help water travel more efficiently up the stem and an antibacterial agent to keep the water clean. Flower food can prolong flower life by up to 60%.

You can whip up your own DIY flower food if you like and all it takes is:

One teaspoon of sugar
A few drops of lemon juice
One tiny drop of bleach per litre of water.

Step Three: Strip the leaves below the waterline

Before you pop your flowers in the vase, remove the leaves that will sit below the waterline. The easiest way is to figure this out is by holding a stem up against your vase and make a mental note of the waterline.

Submerged leaves rot within 48 hours which introduces bacteria into the water. Bacteria in the water will lead to blocked stems, meaning drooping flowers much sooner than expected. Besides the water will look murky and tad bit gross.

Step Three: Refresh the water every 2-3 days (the big one)

If you do nothing else in this guide, please do this: change the vase water, rinse the vase, and re-trim the stems every two to three days. That's it.

By day three, even water that looks clear is full with bacteria and It is invisibly killing your flowers.

Step Five: Where you put them matters more than you think

Direct sunlight warms and ages your flowers in exactly the same way it warms and ripens fruit. A well lit room from daylight is ideal, but not in the view of the sun.

Heat sources like Radiators, vents, televisions and appliances actively dehydrates the air around your flowers so keep a distance.

Ripened fruit is the strange one on the list, but scientifically there’s a reason. Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas which causes premature ageing. Move over Bananas or move one of them, we’ll let you decide which goes.

Cool rooms extend vase life, that’s why Florists store flowers at 1 to 3°C. Moving your bouquet to a cooler part of your home will help extend their life.

The home remedies: Do they work?

People have been dropping things into flower water and hoping for the best for a very long time. We’ve done the homework and this is your guide to trust and myths.

Does Aspirin make flowers last longer?

Mixed evidence with small effect at best. Aspirin is mildly acidic, which in theory helps water travel up the stem more efficiently. Tests find little consistent benefit and more aspirin can damage stems.

Our verdict: Save it for headaches

Does a penny in the vase help flowers?

Yes and No. Copper is a fungicide but the in a modern UK penny are no longer made of pure copper. Technically, if you drop a penny in your vase, you'll just have a vase with a penny in it. If you can find a very old penny (pre-1992) they should help a little. Best served with Tulips.

Our verdict: Save you pennies

Does lemonade help cut flowers?

Clear lemon lime pop makes the water more acidic (good) and provides sugar (also good). One part lemonade to three parts water, with a single drop of bleach added, is a partial substitute for flower food.

Our verdict: Leave the lemonade for drinking.

Does vodka help flowers last longer?

Tiny amounts of clear spirit do slow ethylene production, the gas that makes flowers age faster. The effect is modest and the margin between helpful and damaging is very small. It's literally a few drops in a full vase and not a generous pour. Flowers are not built for a night out.

Does hairspray keep flowers fresh?

No. This is a myth with absolutely no scientific basis. Do not try it.

The real question: where your fresh flowers come from matters

The most important factor for the longevity of flowers is how long ago were they cut. This is why FlowerFix works with flower growers so that we can post your flowers immediately after they’re cut at the farm.

We also send flowers so they last longer and allows you to watch them bloom over the coming days. Whereas local florists will delivery flowers that are already bloomed for gift-ready purposes.

The Independent named us for the best long-lasting letterbox flowers in the UK. The care tips above will extend any bouquet and you'll find a care guide booklet in every Flower Fix bouquet delivery.

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