Flower Care

 

Dried & Preserved Flowers

Dried and preserved flowers are an amazing and sustainable option for your home, office or any occasions as they last for a long time. Dried and preserved flowers are delicate and caring is essential. With the right care, it can last at least 6-12 months. Dried flowers & foliage will naturally fade in colour over time.

Here are some tips to keep your dried flowers looking wonderful:

  • Do not Water
  • Be gentle and handle with care
  • Keep out of direct sunlight
  • Keep at low humidity levels in a vase full of air.

 

Fresh Flowers

The hard thing with fresh flowers is keeping them fresh and gorgeous for as long as possible. Taking proper care of your flowers will help them last longer. Here are a few tips how to keep your flowers going strong:

Keep your vase filled with water! All flower and foliage stems should be submerged. Flowers stay fresher, longer when they can get a drink! Keep the vase full to ensure the flowers do not dry out. Flowers are also highly susceptible to bacteria that builds up as stems sit in the water. By changing the water in the vase every few days, even if the water hasn’t been used up, will help keep your flowers fresh longer.

Cut the stems: Trim at least a half inch of stem off your flowers before you put them in a vase and each time you change the water. Cut at an angle to help the stems better absorb. Experts suggest re-trimming your blooms every few days for a fresh and clean stem. Trim with sharp scissors to ensure a clean-cut leaving cells unharmed. Dull old scissors can damage the tissue/cells at the end of the stem.

Change the water every few days: Start with a clean vase and fill it with room temperature water. When you add ingredients like flower food to the water, make sure they are completely mixed and dissolved before you place the flowers. Change the water, clean the vase, and re-trim the stems every few days. If your flowers came in a box, basket or other containers with a foam, add fresh water every day. Watch when your water gets cloudy, it means that it’s time to change it out.

Prune extra leaves: Remove any dead or dying flowers from the arrangement. Then, remove any leaves that fall below the water line to prevent bacterial growth. Check your flowers daily to remove dead leaves and petals.

Avoid heat, direct sunlight and windows: Flowers will last longer under cooler conditions. Keep them away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, they can quickly dry out and cause wilting. Avoid placing them near windowsills, areas with full sun and appliances that generate high or low temperatures like the stove, air conditioner, ceiling fans, and even your computer or TV. Open windows will also cause them to dehydrate more quickly.

Avoid ripening fruit or vegetables: Ripening fruit gives off an odorless invisible gas called ethylene. This gas is harmless to humans, but rather deadly to flowers, it can cut the lifespan of your flower arrangement.

Use flower food: While changing the water every other day or so, add in flower food packets provided by your florist, according to the instructions on the packet. In addition to “feeding” the bouquet, these food packets contain a bactericide that keeps the water fresh for a day or two longer. You can make your own flower food by adding about 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and a 1 teaspoon of bleach to your vase before adding about a quart of warm tap water. While most flowers love ‘flower food’, it is worth noting that there are a few flowers that actually do NOT like flower food in the vase. Some of these are: zinnias, sunflowers and glads.

Terrarium & Air Plant

Most terrariums require low level of water. DO NOT over water, it will damage the root of the plant. Spray the terrariums with a bottle spray for easier control. Like in nature, terrarium likes rainwater or de-mineralised water (bottle of water) to feed. It is better to avoid using tap water to extend your terrarium’s lifespan.

Enclosed terrariums – They are like a little ecosystem. The moisture will stay in the jar for a quite long time. Spray some water only when you don’t see the moisture on the wall of the glass.

Open terrariums – The natural airflow takes some moisture away. For tropical plants, spray them when the soil is dry; or once every two weeks for succulents or cactus. Please note that, ferns and moss like extra moist, it might need spraying of water every day depending on how dry the weather is.

Air plants – Require generous misting or soaking at least once a week with room temperature water. Air dry. It needs air circulation, ideal to display in a wide-open terrarium or open stand.

LIGHT AND AIR FOR TERRARIUMS

Find a spot that receives plenty of INDIRECT light. If there is little natural light, artificial light can be a good source as well. Remember, terrarium doesn’t like direct sunlight, it will kill them quickly. Please keep it away from the “hot spots”. The plants grow toward a light source, in order to keep them upright, turn your terrarium occasionally.

Plants NEED air flow, especially for succulents and cactus. For open terrariums with succulents, place them in a better air flow position. For enclosed terrariums, remove the lid once a month to allow air out.

​BUGS AND FLYS

All terrariums use organic products, include living plants and organic soil. They might contain bugs or small flies naturally. It is NORMAL. Just simply let them go.