Flower Care

Knowing how to care for your flowers can be a tricky business…

Little Love Co Florist has created this flower care page so we can share our pro tips and sage wisdom with you, so you can enjoy your flowers longer!

We’ll start with the basics.

Cut flowers - like you just picked them from the garden, they will be bound together with twine, ribbon, or elastic and may come gift wrapped in paper.

  • Fill a clean vase with fresh (preferably purified) water
  • Cut your flower stems on a 45⁰ angle and place in your vase
  • Place in a cool position away from direct sunlight and drafts (heating/Cooling systems)
  • Repeat step 1-2 whenever you notice the water is cloudy or every second day. Think of it like this, flowers breath water. A clean vase and fresh water is like clean air to us!
  • As a bloom begins to fade, it is perfectly fine and recommended you snip it out or remove the stem entirely. Flowers release ethylene gas as they begin to decompose which can cause your flowers to mature prematurely. Removing spent blooms can extend their life cycle and encourage younger buds to bloom.

    Hand tied flowers – These are flower’s your florist has arranged using technical skills, often combining a variety of flowers and foliage. They will be bound together with twine, ribbon, or elastic, etc., and may be presented in a vase of water or gift wrapped in paper.

    • It is best to follow the same steps listed above for cut flowers.
    • If your flowers are presented in a vase, they will be tied together to make it easier for you to remove the flowers without affecting the overall design.
    • If your flowers are gift wrapped it is up to you if you remove the wrapping or enjoy them as is.
    • The florist may wet pack your flowers for transport which will be hidden with gift wrap. If the stems of your flowers are wrapped, please ensure you remove it exposing the stems. Then follow the same steps listed above for cut flowers.

    Flowers arranged in floral foam – Floral foam is a base medium in which flowers may be arranged, it is dark green and spongy to the touch.  

    1. Place your arrangement in a cool position away from direct sunlight and drafts (heating/Cooling systems)
    2. It is best to check the water level of the foam daily. To do this you simply nestle a finger into the container your flowers are arranged in. if you can’t feel the water level, or the foam is not moist (soaking wet) to the touch it is time to top them up with water!
    3. Whilst you are checking the foam, check to see if a cellophane liner has been used to protect the container they are in (particularly cardboard boxes or bags). If there is cellophane present, make sure you pull it to the side when you top up the water. The water can spill between the liner and container which may cause damage to the container they are in.
    4. Topping up the foam with water - We recommend you follow this next step over a sink. Caution is required when topping up the water, floral foam absorbs water slowly, so it is best you pour the water into the container in small increments or very slowly. It is easy to overfill the foam which may cause damage to the container they are in.
    5. As a bloom begins to fade, it is perfectly fine and recommended you snip it out or remove the stem entirely. Flowers release ethylene gas as they begin to decompose which can cause your flowers to mature prematurely. Removing spent blooms can extend their life cycle and encourage younger buds to bloom.