Flowers Care Guide

Follow these simple guidelines to enjoy extra life and pleasure from your cut flowers. We've included some information about the meaning of flowers so that you can choose what's most appropriate to give for any occasion.

Hand tied bouquets

Hand tied bouquets are carefully arranged by the florist so they can be placed straight into a vase on arrival for display.

Arranging your bouquet

• Remove all external packaging but to keep the shape of the bouquet intact - leave the string tied around the stems.
• To remove the aqua pack at the base, hold your bouquet over a sink and cut off the bottom of the film.
• Gently lay the bouquet on the side and cut 3cm off the bottom of the stems at a 45° angle.
• If you can cut the stems while holding them submerged they will absorb even more water.
• Place your bouquet in a vase large enough to allow the stems to reach at least half-way down.
• Fill it three quarters full with lukewarm water, adding the flower food supplied.
• Make sure your vase is completely clean, as residue can harbour bacteria which will block the tiny tubules that carry water up the stems, causing your flowers to wilt.
• Remove any fronds and leaves which lie below the water level.
• Take care with lily pollen as it may stain clothing and furnishings. Use sticky tape to remove - don't use water or try to brush it off.
• Lily pollen can also be harmful to pets if ingested.

Finding the right position for your flowers

Flowers thrive in light cool positions around 18 - 22°C (65 - 72°F). Keep away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, radiators and other appliances that give off heat.

Avoid placing flowers near ripening fruit, or leaving dying blooms in the display - both release tiny amounts of ethylene gas which makes flowers age faster.

Ongoing care

• Spray with a gentle mist of water daily.
• Deadhead to remove diseased or dying blooms.
• Keep the water level topped up.
• Cloudy or smelly water should be discarded and replaced with fresh lukewarm water.
• Before replacing stems, trim them again to remove any air bubbles that may have built up in the stems' sensitive network of water-transportation vessels.
• Continue to add flower food to the water in quantities advised as it contains a biocide to repel bacteria.
• Adding lemonade to the water may help flowers open but it also adds bacteria.
• We wouldn't advise you to add anything to flower water except flower food.

Flowers and birthdays

We can't always guarantee they'll be in season or in our selection, but here's a list of flowers and their corresponding zodiac signs.

The meaning of flowers

Flowers have been given different meanings by different cultures, but here are a few connected to those most commonly found in our collection at various times of year.

• Anemones: Unfading love
• Amaryllis: Pride
• Begonias: Beware
• Carnations: Bonds of affection, fascination
• Chrysanthemums: Cheerfulness, appreciation of friendship
• Daffodils: Respect
• Eucalyptus: Protection
• Freesias: Friendship, sweetness
• Gladioli: Strong character, love at first sight
• Hyacinths: Games and sports, rashness
• Hyacinths (blue): Constancy
• Hyacinths (purple): Forgive me
• Hyacinths (white): Loveliness
• Hydrangeas: Thank you for understanding
• Ivy: Fidelity and friendship
• Lavender: Devotion
• Lilies: Keep unwanted visitors away
• Lilies (white): Purity, majesty
• Narcissus: Stay as sweet as you are
• Orchids: Love, beauty
• Pansies: Thoughts, love
• Peonies: Aphrodisiac
• Roses (red): Love
• Roses (white): Innocence, secrecy
• Roses (pink): Perfect happiness
• Roses (yellow): Friendship
• Roses (dark crimson): Mourning
• Sunflowers: Loyalty, wishes
• Tulips (red): Declaration of love
• Tulips (yellow): Hopeless love
• Tulips (variegated): Beautiful eyes