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Looking after your flowers
- Get Them Ready—Pull off all
stem leaves that will be covered by vase water. In a water-filled basin or
bowl submerge flower stems, and cut them diagonally with scissors. This
simple step will help your flowers absorb cut flower food, while
eliminating stem-clogging bacteria.
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- Feed Your Flowers—Always
start with a clean vase and add a packet of cut flower food to warm water.
A packet of flower food is enclosed with all flowers and arrangements from
us. The use of flower food has been shown to increase the life of fresh
flowers by several days. Individual packets are available wherever cut
flowers are sold.
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- Show Them Off—Display your
flowers in a cool, draft-free location, away from harsh sunlight and heat
vents. Don't set flowers on top of a TV. Top off water daily and replace
totally after several days. Flowers like to be spray misted too! When
you're down to your last few blooms, change to a smaller vase.
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- Tips for Getting
Started—Beautiful bouquets and flower arrangements can be shown off in
many different types of vases and containers. The possibilities are
endless—from an antique teapot or brass urn, to an elegant crystal vase,
or a simple glass jar. Avoid containers made of steel or iron.
Tip: Make
sure your vase is leak proof, and has a neck and water reservoir large
enough for your flowers to fit comfortably.
For some flower arrangements you may also
want to use a brick of floral foam—a substance that, when saturated, holds
flowers in place.
Tip: Be sure
to soak your foam in water containing a floral food solution. Let foam
absorb water at its own rate. Cut it to fit the shape of your container,
leaving enough space for reserve water. Floral foam cuts easier when wet.
If your flowers sometimes don't stand up
straight ...
Tip: It could be your vase is too short
for your flowers, or your flowers are too tall for your vase! A good rule
of thumb: the height of your vase should be about half to one-third as
tall as your flowers.
Tip: Build a grid across the top of your
vase with clear tape. Then place flowers within the grid.
Oh no! I've cut my flowers too short!
Tip: Don't
worry. Just add pebbles or marbles to the bottom of your vase or simply
float the head of a broken flower in a clear bowl for a charming display.
Splish, splash, my furniture is taking a
bath!
Tip: To
avoid "spill over" when watering your flowers, use a kitchen bulb-type
baster to reach into narrow vases and full arrangements.
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