Heatwave Stems

The heatwaves don’t seem to be ending and it’s certainly been a learning curve when it comes to flowers and their ability to withstand high temperatures.

Summer flowers are a slightly more fragile than the more robust Spring and Autumn varieties - so I wanted to put together a guide on how to give your stems a little more care in these hot conditions. Hopefully giving you more vase life to enjoy your flowers for longer.

Keep out of direct sun

This one I would advise for all times of the year for maximum vase life, but in the baking heat this is crucial. That includes being out on a doorstep, so if you’re expecting a delivery it’s always good to be in or have someone take the package inside for you.

Open up and unpack as soon as you can

If you’re in, perfect! Unpack your stems and let them breath. Find a lovely cool shady corner in your home. Trim the ends of the stems and plunge them into cold, fresh water.

Let them rest

Leave them wrapped and let them rest for a bit. A few hours minimum, ideally overnight for them to fully recover.

Don’t over handle things

If you’re conditioning and arranging - for example if you’ve got one of our Seasonal Boxes. Try and keep the stems in water while you condition, and try not to handle too much. Only picking up stems when you’re ready to put them in their final place.

Keep re-trimming

Even after you’ve trimmed the stems on arrival, they love a re-trim every few days. It also helps prevent slimy or sticky stem bases, which can create bacteria in the water.

Refresh your water

Clean, fresh water is essential every few days to keep them going that little bit longer. I know water levels can change quickly too, so keeps the vase topped up. It also means you can remove any dead leaves or things that have fallen into the vase causing bacteria.

Too much maintenance?

It is a bit of extra work, but if you’re hoping to extend the life of your stems these tips will give you the best chance.