How to Make Your Bouquet Last Longer: 8 Florist Tips
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A fresh bouquet can stay beautiful for a week or longer with a little care. These are the same steps our florists recommend to every Greenroom Flowers customer, plus a few extra tips for flower boxes and baskets.
1. Remove the aquapack and use a clean vase
Many of our bouquets travel in an aquapack, a small water reservoir that keeps the stems hydrated on the way. Once your flowers arrive, remove it and place the bouquet in a clean vase with fresh, cool water. A vase that has been washed with soap removes bacteria that can shorten vase life.
2. Trim the stems
Cut 1–2 cm from each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors. A fresh cut helps the stems absorb water. Repeat this every time you change the water.
3. Change the water every two days
Replace the vase water approximately every two days. Clean water is the single most important thing for longer-lasting flowers. Remove any leaves that sit below the waterline, since they break down quickly and cloud the water.
4. Keep or remove the wrapping
The wrapping helps the bouquet keep its shape. If you prefer to remove it, leave the ribbon in place so the arrangement does not fall apart.
5. Keep flowers away from fruit
Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which speeds up wilting. Keep your bouquet away from the fruit bowl, especially bananas and apples.
6. Avoid heat and direct sunlight
Radiators, heaters, hot appliances and sunny windowsills all make flowers fade faster. During Toronto winters, keep bouquets away from heating vents, and in summer, away from direct afternoon sun.
7. Choose a cool spot
Flowers generally stay fresh longer in a cool, comfortable room. Some people even move their bouquet to the coolest room in the house overnight.
8. Watch the water level
Flowers like hydrangeas and roses drink a lot. Check the vase every day and top it up with fresh water whenever needed.
Caring for flower boxes and baskets
Arrangements in a box or basket sit in floral foam instead of a vase. Add a small amount of water directly to the foam approximately every two days so it stays moist. Keep the box upright, cool and away from direct sunlight.
Which flowers last the longest?
If long vase life matters most, choose carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria or orchids. Roses, tulips and hydrangeas also last well with regular water changes. Peonies and ranunculus are more delicate but open beautifully over a few days.
For a printable version of these steps, see our flower care guide. Ready for fresh flowers? Browse our bestsellers, handcrafted in Mississauga with same-day delivery across Toronto and select GTA areas.