How to Care for Cut Flowers After Delivery: A Simple Home Routine

Cover: AI-generated editorial illustration. The product cards below show actual LOVA products; the cover does not represent an exact product or arrangement.

Your bouquet has arrived. Before deciding where it looks best, take a moment to prepare its container and read any instructions supplied with it. A simple routine is easier to keep up than a long list of flower-care tricks.

This guide is for cut stems displayed in a vase. If your flowers arrive in another arrangement format, ask LOVA for the appropriate instructions before taking it apart.

Prepare the vase and stems

Wash and rinse the vase, remove foliage that would sit below the water, and refresh the stem ends with clean, sharp secateurs. Make clean cuts rather than crushing the stems. Add fresh water and use cut-flower food according to its packet instructions.

The Royal Horticultural Society's cut-flower guidance recommends changing water and re-cutting stem bases every two to four days, removing fading flowers, and keeping the display cool and away from heat and ripe fruit. Follow any more specific instructions supplied for your arrangement.

LOVA offers a glass vase and a pruner as separate accessories. Check that the selected container suits your bouquet rather than assuming one size fits every arrangement.

Give the bouquet a practical place in your home

Choose a spot where you can see and reach the vase easily. That makes routine care less likely to be forgotten. A display behind objects on a high shelf may be attractive, but awkward when you need to lift the vase and replace the water.

Think about the room at different times of day, too. A surface that is convenient in the morning may be used for cooking, a computer or a family meal later. Pick a permanent place that leaves enough room for the arrangement.

A care checklist you can actually use

Moment	Your check	Make it easy
When the bouquet arrives	Read the supplied instructions and prepare its display	Set aside a clear workspace before unpacking
During your daily routine	Look at the water and the condition of individual stems	Link the check to a habit such as your morning coffee
At a water change	Follow the care guidance above	Keep the supplied instructions and flower-food packet together
Before leaving home for a longer period	Decide who will look after the bouquet	Leave a short note describing its usual routine

This is an organisational checklist, not a guarantee of how many days a bouquet will last. Flower varieties, their stage of opening and the conditions in your home all matter. A mixed bouquet may also change unevenly, so look at the individual stems rather than expecting every flower to behave identically.

If something does not look right

Take a clear photograph and note when the bouquet arrived and what you have done so far. Include a picture of the whole arrangement and a closer view of the affected flowers. That gives the florist a better starting point than a message saying only that the bouquet looks different.

If the arrangement has just arrived and you are unsure about its condition, contact LOVA promptly. Avoid trying several unfamiliar treatments before asking for advice; a photo and the delivery details are more useful for understanding the situation.

Sending flowers as a gift? Make care part of the handover

Ask whether the recipient has a suitable vase and will be present to receive the flowers. If the bouquet is going to a workplace or hotel, find out who will pass it on. A short note about where the care instructions are can be more useful than adding a long explanation to the greeting card.

For a florist-led composition, explore Bouquet of the Day. If you prefer the look of one flower variety, compare the Mixed Dianthus Bouquet. Use each listing to choose the size and check the ordering options.

Our vase selection guide helps with container choice, while the delivery checklist covers the information to prepare when arranging a gift.

Common questions after a bouquet arrives

How long will my flowers last?

There is no single duration that applies to every bouquet. Ask about the particular flowers and follow the supplied care instructions rather than treating an online estimate as a promise.

Should I treat all flowers in a mixed bouquet the same way?

Start with the general care guidance, but ask the florist if a particular stem needs different handling. Do not assume advice for a garden plant also applies to its cut flower.

What if I do not have a suitable vase?

Ask about an appropriate container and whether a vase can be added to the order. Check the opening, height and stability for the selected bouquet.

Need help with your delivery? Contact LOVA with your order details and a photograph. For your next bouquet, browse our flower collection.