by: Clinton Porter

If you've been given Flowers as a gift, it's useful to know how to look after the bouquet or arrangement to help make the present last as long as possible. There are a number of things you can do in order to ensure you get the most out of any gift of Flowers.

Flower Bouquets:

• Cut off of least 3 cms from the bottom of soft stemmed Flowers, e.g. chrysanthemums, before placing them in water.

• Try to cut Flower stems at a sharp angle of 45 degrees based on the fact that cutting stems at such an angle helps stem cells take in water because of increases gained in the stem cell surface area.

• For all Flowers, remove any leaves which will sit below water level – this prevents them rotting and encouraging algae to grow in the vase water.

• Be careful not to damage Flower stems as this will damage cell structure and impair the Flower's ability to absorb water – it will also destroy some of the structural strength in the Flowers and prevent them from last as long as they otherwise might.

• Use the Flower Food supplied with your gift.

• Avoid putting the Flowers in direct sunlight.

• Cut stems every 3 days to avoid bacteria blocks in the stem and ensure you change Flower water regularly.

Flower Arrangements:

• Make sure those arrangements which sit in wet Floral Foam are fed water on a daily basis.

• Spray the arrangement daily with a light water mist and take off any ageing flowers.

• Avoid putting Flowers in direct sunlight, draughty spots or near heat.

• Do not place Flowers close to ripening fruit as it can release ethylene gas emissions which will prematurely age certain Flowers.

• Strive for temperatures of 21°C for the day and 10° to 13°C for the night.