Whether you’ve treated yourself to a small bunch of tulips, have received a huge bouquet of roses from a secret admirer or have been treated to a mixed arrangement by a loved one, you’ll want your flowers to stay beautiful for as long as possible. So, why not read on to learn a few tricks of the trade that florists use to keep their flowers looking spectacular all the time, so your arrangement of cut flowers will stay fresh for longer.

Trick 1 - Water
Flowers are made up of 90 per cent water, and this is what keeps them fresh and firm, so the most important rule when caring for fresh flowers is to give them plenty of the wet stuff.

But it’s not just a case of filling your vase with water and leaving your flowers to grow, oh no, you need to make sure the water temperature is correct and that it is clean at all times.

You are actually best keeping your flowers in lukewarm water as this encourages buds and closed flowers to open, but once they are open you can add a little cold water as cool temperatures slow down growth so your arrangement will last longer.

However, it is also worth remembering that very hot or very cold water causes damage to the flowers, and this is shown through the flowers wilting when the water is too hot and dying very quickly when it’s too cold.

If the water should become cloudy, you must clean the vase and change the water immediately as this is a sign of bacteria infestation, which will almost certainly kill your flowers.

Fresh flowers also benefit from being sprayed with a gentle mist of water once a day, while you should top up the water in the vase regularly and change it once a week.

Trick 2 - Food
Like all living things, flowers need food as well as water to help them live longer. You will usually get a small sachet of food attached to your bouquet, although extra packets of food can be bought from any florist.

Flower food contains a special mix of chemicals that have been developed to prolong the life of flowers, such as sugar to keep the flower’s energy level high, and biocide to keep bacteria at bay.

You should continue to add flower food to the water on a regular basis as this will help to reduce the build up of bacteria and will keep your flowers looking fresh for longer.

However, you should remember that too much food can be as harmful as too little, so always read the instructions on the flower food packet to avoid over feeding.

Trick 3 - Container
Fresh cut flowers should always be kept in clean vases or containers, which have been scrubbed before and after use to ensure they are free from bacteria. It is also worth using a mild cleaning solution, such as Clorox, after each use.

In addition, you should avoid using metal containers because this can neutralise the flower food, which will shorten the life of your flowers.

Trick 4 - Location
Flowers thrive in light, cool locations (ideally between 18 - 22°C/65 - 72°F). Your arrangement should be kept away from direct sunlight, heaters, radiators, large lights, and fires, as these will all shorten the lifespan of your flowers.

If possible you should also keep your fresh flowers away from ripening fruit and you should not leave dying blooms in the arrangement because both of these release gases that make flowers age faster.

As you’d expect, flowers also need clean air, so an arrangement in a room where people are smoking or close to an open window where traffic flow is heavy will not live as long as those elsewhere.

Trick 5 - Use sharp scissors
You should always cut flowers with a sharp knife or pair of scissors because a sharp edge is needed to make a clean even cut that will allow more water to enter the stems.

To keep your flowers looking fresh for as long as possible you should also cut the stems at an angle and remove any leaves that will be below the water line. These tactics provide a bigger surface area for taking up more water and ensure the leaves do not decompose and contaminate the water.

Another useful tip is to cut the stems under water because this will prevent air getting into the stem, which stops the flower from absorbing water.