Upon Arrival
For All Flower Arrangement or Baskets...
- Unpack your arrangement immediately upon receipt.
- Add fresh water to start and continue to add water every 2-3 days.
- Your flowers are arranged in a container, typically with a plastic liner, please add water over the sink in case of overflow.
For All Loose Flowers / Stems… Bouquets & Gift Boxes
- Your loose cut flowers need fresh water and a clean vase.
- Cut ½” off the base of each stems when you first receive them and then every few days cut the stems again ½” and change the water, this will help extend the life of your bouquet.
- Clean water and a clean vase are the critical elements to keep your flowers fresh and long lasting, while cutting the stems frequently allows intake of water.
- Keep your flowers away from drying heat sources as well as air conditioning or drafts.
Flower Care by Type
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Anthurium
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Bird of Paradise
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Ginger & Heliconia
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Orchids
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Protea
Anthurium Care
- Follow instructions for Loose Flowers
- Upon arrival immerse both flowers and stems in room temperature water for 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- Every 5 days cut another ½” from the base of the stem and soak the entire flower again for 15 minutes
- Anthuriums die from the stem up toward the flower heads, and evaporate water from the heads
- Avoid temperatures below 55 degrees
Bird of Paradise Care
- Follow instructions for Loose Flowers
To bring out extra flowers :
- After the Bird of Paradise stem is cut from the plant, new flowers will not automatically emerge from the heavy sheaths, they will need your gentle coaxing as follows:
- Soak the flower head in room temperature water for 20 minutes
- Insert your thumb inside the unopened sheath through the slit on the upper side and gently lift up a new flower
- Carefully remove the thin white membrane which separates each flower and cut it off
Ginger & Heliconia Care
- Follow instructions for Loose Flowers
- Upon arrival soak the whole stem and entire flower head in room temperature water for 15-30 minutes
- Repeat soaking every 3 days. More frequent soaking does not harm ginger or heliconia because their optimal growing conditions are in full sunlight with constant intermittent gentle tropical rain
- Do not refrigerate
Orchid Care
- Follow instructions for Loose Flowers but cut your orchid stems about an inch to allow for maximum water intake.
- If flowers are soft or wilted, simply submerge the whole spray in cool fresh water for 15-20 minutes until they firm up.
- Misting regularly helps flowers last longer.
We are partial to Protea… you’ve figured that out by now. So check out this in depth information about how to care for your Protea to live their best life. For more details about Protea check out our Blog posts.
Protea Care for Loose Flowers
- Follow instructions for Loose Flowers
- Proteas are very thirsty so may appear tired after their journey to you. They will perk up if you place them in and maintain an adequate supply of clean water below the leaves.
- Leaf discoloration in some protea is natural, though the flower is still fresh for you to enjoy. We suggest you strip most of the leaves from the stem and around the flower to reveal the blossoms more.
- Display protea near a window when possible
- Your fresh protea flowers can dry into a permanent arrangement by simply emptying the water from the vase. This natural method will allow your Protea basket / arrangement to retain some of the flowers color tones.
- Hanging flowers upside down is another method for drying protea naturally. For best results, keep them away from direct light in an area of good air circulation for about a month.
Care of your Protea Basket or Arrangement
- Add water every 2-3 days
- Your flowers are arranged in a plastic liner, but please add water to the container over the sink in case of overflow.
- After your Proteas flowers begin to dry, allow the water to evaporate.
- Your flowers will dry naturally in the basket/container and become a permanent arrangement
How to Dry Protea Naturally
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It is possible to dry Proteas naturally and still retain some of their color tones.
Here are three ways to Dry Loose Protea Flowers:
- Simply empty the water from your vase, the fresh flowers will dry into a permanent arrangement
- Hang the flowers upside down. For best results, keep Protea away from direct light in an area of good circulations for about a month.
- Drying Protea with Glycerine is a popular process...
- Start the glycerine process before the flower color starts to fade
- Note: During the actual glycerine drying operation, the water and moisture evaporate from the flower while the glycerine remains. Besides giving the Protea a beautiful mahogany color when dried, the leaves remain supple.
- To begin the glycerine drying method…
- mix 3 parts lukewarm water to one part glycerine and stir. Be certain you have enough of the mixture to immerse the stems to a depth of at least 4 inches.
- Re-cut the stems an additional ¼ inch. Then pound stems with a hammer to insure maximum uptake. Place stems in the solution.
- The next day begin to make periodic checks on the saturation process. If you see minute beads of oil in the uppermost leave, or if the leaves are oily to the touch, remove from the solution and place Protea stems in an airy container for the actual drying process.
- Varying shades of browns and beige can be obtained by placing some of the stems in direct light, some in partial shade and some in a dark closet.
- It is important to remember that the Proteas should be removed from the solution as soon as you have determined they have become saturated throughout. Otherwise, they will continue to absorb the glycerine, and it will “glob” on the leaves.
- Glycerine/water may be reused over and over again on any other flower that you may want to dry.