Flower Care

GERBERA DAISY CARE TIPS

Gerbera daisies are so cheerful you'll want to keep them around as long as possible. Here's how to get the most from your cut gerbera flowers:

• If looked after well, gerberas have a vase life of around 7-10 days.Make sure your vase is thoroughly cleaned prior to adding your gerberas. They are particularly susceptible to bacteria blocking the stems which will make them droop. Try using some bleach and hot water to get your vase ready.

• Cut the stems at an angle and immediately place into fresh, clean, shallow water. Make sure you add flower food to keep bacteria at bay.

• Place them away from heat as gerbera flowers prefer cooler temperatures.

• Replace the water every 2-3 days to reduce the build up of bacteria.

• Style tip Gerberas last longer in vases when they are secured in floral foam.

Chrysanthemum care: How to make your flowers last

Ensure these lush blooms last for as long as possible with our tips on caring for chrysanthemums in that special bouquet you've received.

• Re-cut the flower's stems and consider cutting them to different lengths to create some height and variety in your display.

• Place your flowers in clean, fresh water with flower food. Crisscross your stems to create a splayed finish that looks a little more professionally done.

• Remove any foliage that comes into contact with the vase water and change this every 3 to 4 days, re-cutting the stems each time.

• Handle your blooms with care, as the heads can shatter easily. No one wants a balding flower!

• We recommend that you display your bouquet in deep water, which will help to stop leaves from drooping and then feature your flowers in pride of place, away from draughts and direct sunlight.

Chrysanthemums require little care once they've been popped in that vase. Just ensure you change the water when it starts to look cloudy, remove any dead foliage or petals straight away and enjoy!

Lily care tips

When looked after properly, lilies have one of the longest vase lives of all cut flowers. Here's how to look after yours:

1. Lilies have a vase life of around 10-14 days. Prepare your lilies by diagonally trimming the stems by roughly an inch.
2. Remove any leaves that will fall below the water line. This will reduce the build up of bacteria in the water and keep your lily flowers fresher for longer.
3. Remove the stamens (the orange / yellow fluffy bits that carry the pollen) to prevent staining. This doesn’t affect the longevity of the flowers. If you get pollen on any fabric, use sticky tape to dap the stain away or gently brush it off. Do not use water as this will make it worse.
4. Fill your vase 2/3 full with room temperature water and add the flower food.
5. Keep the vase topped up with water daily.
6. Change the water and re-trim the stems every few days to maximise vase life.

Note: Hay fever sufferers should opt for unscented varieties as the pollen count is much lower. Oriental lilies are the most heavily scented so avoid these if you have allergies.

Style Tip: Lilies look best in arrangements with taller flowers and they pair beautifully with roses, sunflowers or gladioli.

Warning: Keep lilies away from animals (especially cats and dogs) and children as they can be toxic.

Lily meanings can change depending on the colour:

• White lilies: Purity and virtue
• Orange lilies: Confidence, pride and wealth
• Red lilies: Passion
• Yellow lilies: Purity, innocence
• Pink lilies: Propperity and abundance

How to care for peonies

1. Find them a nice clean vase

Choose a vase that’s sparkling clean (give it a good scrub in hot water with your fave eco-friendly detergent, and then dry it thoroughly) and fill it about two thirds full with fresh water.

2. Add flower food

Never, ever throw that sachet of flower food that comes with your flowers away – it’s packed full of good stuff to keep your blooms going. Just open the sachet, sprinkle the flower food into the water and stir until it disappears. Your water is now prepped and ready to house those gorgeous blooms.

3. Unwrap them carefully

These beauties are precious, so handle them with care. Recycle any wrapping and take care to leave the florists’ tie in place – this is what keep the bouquet in that beautiful shape and it’ll save you having to arrange the flowers yourself (an expert florist has already done the hard work!)

"We hand-tie our peonies in bud so you can enjoy the magic of watching them bloom before your eyes. The tightly packed golf ball sized buds will usually open to reveal blooms up to three times the original bud size. Peonies are really impressive flowers!" Jo, The Daisy Chain, Shepperton

4. Cut the stems

Use a sharp pair of shears or floristry scissors to trim the stems by 3-5cm. Always cut them at an angle. This means the stem has a greater surface areas for taking up water, allowing your peonies to get a good drink.

5. Remove any leaves

Time to trim any leaves that may fall below the waterline. If you don’t, these will sit in the water and invite lots of nasty bacteria which your peonies definitely won’t thank you for!

6. Pop them in

The stage is set, now for the stars of the show! Pop you peonies in the vase and gently fluff them up a little to make sure they sit right.

"If you can't wait for your peonies to open, you can give them a helping hand. Just gently massage the buds at the neck of the stem and pop them in a sunny spot and you'll find they open up quicker. Strange but true!" 

7. Find them the best spot

It’s all about location, location, location. To help your peonies last longer you need to put them in a good spot. You’re after somewhere with no direct sunlight and no drafts (they really hate a breeze!) A hall, coffee table or bedside table is just right.

8. Keep an eye on them day-to-day
Peonies are thirsty flowers so make sure you top up the water daily. Change the water completely every other day (this helps keep bacteria out) and keep trimming the stems to help them drink. There’s no need to deadhead peonies (where you remove the dead flowers), and luckily for the not-so-green-fingered peony pruning is reserved for gardeners, you don’t need to do it with cut flowers.