Our florist top tips for longer lasting flowers.
Fresh flowers are meant to be enjoyed. Here’s how to keep yours looking mighty for as long as possible.
We’ve conditioned, arranged and delivered a fair few flowers over the years, so we know that a wee bit of proper care can make a massive difference.
Whether you’ve just received one of our fresh flower bouquets, treated yourself at our flower bar, or you’re trying desperately to keep the birthday roses going another few days, here’s what our florists recommend.
1. Give the stems a fresh cut
Before your flowers go into a vase, trim around 2–3cm from the bottom of each stem at an angle using clean, sharp scissors or secateurs.
It gives the stems a fresh surface to drink through - particularly important if your flowers have been out of water during their journey home.
And no hacking at them with blunt kitchen scissors. They deserve better.
2. Clean vase. Fresh water. Every time.
This is probably the easiest way to get more life from your flowers.
Start with a properly clean vase and fill it with fresh water. Then change the water every couple of days rather than simply topping it up.
While you’re at it, give the vase another clean and re-cut the stems.
Flowers drink. Bacteria multiplies. Nobody needs the swamp.
3. Keep the leaves out of the water
Any leaves or foliage sitting below the waterline should come off.
Why? Because submerged foliage starts to break down, encouraging bacteria in the water — and your flowers aren’t going to thank you for that.
Keep the stems below the waterline clean and let everything above it do the showing off.
4. Keep the water clean
Clean water is one of the biggest factors in keeping cut flowers looking fresh.
We don’t use or recommend flower food. Instead, add a tiny drop of household bleach or Milton sterilising fluid to your vase water to help keep bacteria under control.
The important bit is tiny - we’re sterilising the water, not giving the flowers a swimming-pool experience.
Change the water every couple of days, clean the vase and give the stems another fresh cut while you’re at it.
5. Location matters.
Your flowers might look fabulous sitting in full sunshine beside the radiator, but they probably won’t for long.
Keep fresh flowers somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight, radiators and other heat sources.
And here’s a slightly random one: avoid sitting them right beside the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit releases ethylene, which can speed up the ageing of cut flowers.
Fruit there. Flowers over here. Sorted.
6. Some flowers need a little extra attention
Not every flower behaves the same way.
Hydrangeas, for example, are famously thirsty and can benefit from additional hydration when they’re having a dramatic moment. Other varieties need very little interference once they’re properly conditioned.
If something in your bouquet looks unhappy, don’t immediately bin the whole thing. Remove any spent flowers, refresh the water and let the rest keep going.
A mixed bouquet will naturally change as different flowers reach the end of their vase life - that’s completely normal.
Which cut flowers last the longest?
Some flowers naturally have more staying power than others.
- Chrysanthemums — up to 3 weeks with proper care
- Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) — 2–3 weeks
- Carnations — up to 3 weeks
- Orchids — 2–4 weeks
- Roses — 1–2 weeks with daily care
But longevity isn’t the only thing we look for.
At Memento, our florists work with the freshest seasonal flowers available at our flower bar, choosing stems for colour, texture, quality and how they work together - rather than following one fixed recipe week after week.
That’s why your bouquet might look a little different from the photograph online.
We think that’s half the fun.
Want flowers without the maintenance?
Fair enough.
Our dried flower collection gives you colour and texture without the water changes, stem trimming or occasional floral tantrum.
Dried flowers can last for months - and often much longer - when they’re kept dry and away from direct sunlight.
Fresh Flower Delivery in Belfast
Need the flowers first?
Memento offers fresh flower delivery across Belfast and Greater Belfast, with a collection of seasonal bouquets handmade by our florists at our Ormeau store.
We also offer same-day flower delivery Monday–Saturday when ordered before 11am, subject to availability.
From birthday bouquets and thank-yous to the “I’ve just realised what date it is” emergencies, we’ve got ya.
And if you’re ever unsure how to care for something we’ve sent, give us a shout. We’d much rather help you rescue it than watch a perfectly good bunch meet an early demise.
Fresh flowers. Properly looked after. Enjoyed for longer.
Have a question about caring for a specific flower? Drop us a message - we're always happy to help.
Till next time
G x
