Congratulations on your gorgeous bouquet from Willow Floral & Design! To help your flowers look their very best, follow these 10 essential care tips, written in New Zealand English:
Trim the stems at an angle. Upon receiving your bouquet, use a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs to cut about 1 to 2 cm off each stem at a 45° angle. This increases the surface area for water uptake and prevents the stem base from sealing against the vase.
Use a spotlessly clean vase. Bacteria thrive in dirty containers, so wash your vase thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Rinse well and dry before adding flowers.
Fill with fresh, lukewarm water. Cold water can shock blooms, while overly hot water can damage cells. Lukewarm (tepid) water helps stems draw water more efficiently.
Add the provided flower food. Every Willow bouquet includes a sachet of specially formulated flower food that balances pH, feeds your blooms and inhibits bacterial growth. Don’t skip it!
Remove any foliage below the waterline. Leaves submerged in water speed up decay and bacterial build‑up. Strip foliage off the bottom 5 to 10 cm of each stem.
Change the water every two days. Empty the vase, give it a quick rinse, refill with fresh, lukewarm water and re‑add flower food. This keeps bacterial levels low and the water crystal‑clear.
Re‑cut stems at each water change. Re‑trimming stems every couple of days renews the open channels for water uptake, helping your flowers stay perky.
Keep bouquets away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Avoid placing arrangements near radiators, heaters, fireplaces or in direct sun, as these can dehydrate petals and foliage.
Avoid ripening fruit and drafty spots. Fruit emits ethylene gas, which accelerates flower ageing. Likewise, drafts from open windows, fans or air‑conditioning can desiccate blooms.
Display in a cool, humid environment. Position your vase in a cooler room (15 to 20 °C) and out of direct airflow; humidity helps petals remain supple and vibrant.
Wilted blooms? Remove spent flowers promptly to prevent them from affecting the rest of the bouquet.
Refresh with sprays. A fine mist on petals can revive limp flowers; avoid over‑saturating.