1. Carefully unpack the flowers upon arrival.
2. Use only clean vases or containers.
3. Some of our customers forego flower food and simply use a generic brand spring water. Spring water will be more pure and clean than water from your tap. (If you choose to use flower food please follow the directions on the flower food container – too much flower food can do more harm than good).
4. Remove all leaves and foliage which will be under the water in the vase. Leaves left underwater will rot and create bacteria.
5. Cut at an angle 1 inch off the base of each flower stem using a sharp knife or scissors to allow for greater water uptake.
6. Place the flowers in the water that you have prepared. Please know that flowers can take up to 12 hours to hydrate properly after shipping.
7. Keep the flowers in a cool and well ventilated spot out of direct sunlight and away from heat. We highly recommend customers store flowers at temperatures below 65 degrees. As a general rule of thumb: the cooler the temperature, the slower the flowers will open and the longer they will last.
   
8. Avoid placing flowers near heating or cooling vents, under ceiling fans and on the tops of televisions or radiators (placing flowers on or near these objects can cause the flower to become dehydrated). Avoid placing flowers close to fruit or vegetables. We do not recommend storing your fresh flowers in refrigerators or walk-in coolers that are not specifically designed for the storing of fresh flowers.
9. Change the water every 2 or 3 days, or whenever the water appears discolored. When you change the water we recommend you clean the vase and cut the stems again.

** Special Care Tips **

Roses

• Our flower farms pack roses in bunches of 25 stems. The roses are packed in a two-level system. When you remove the rose bunch from the box you will only see 12 or 13 roses - the other 12 or 13 roses are packed directly underneath them.

• Leave the roses packed in bunches and trim about 1 inch off of the bottom of the stems and put them in water. We highly recommend leaving the plastic wrap around the roses in place for about 6 hours while the roses re-hydrate.

• When you arrange the roses, trim the stems again and carefully remove any loose or discolored outer petals. As the rose opens, look for opportunities to refresh the appearance of selected roses by carefully removing additional unsightly petals.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Gerbera Daises

• The Gerbera Daises are sent in trays and come with healthy long stems. Cut the stems about 1 inch up from the bottom and position the tray over a bucket or trash can with water (you will want to have the flowers laying flat in the tray with the stems hanging straight down). Allow the flowers to hydrate for several hours. Hydrating the Gerbera Daisies in this position will allow the stems to firm up tall and straight.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Oriental Lilies & Asiatic Lilies

• As the blooms open, remove the stamens (little pollen sacks) so that they do not stain the flower, furniture, or clothes once fully opened.

• If the blooms do not begin to open within a day or two of being in water, please click here for additional flower care instructions.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Calla Lilies & Mid-sized Calla Lilies

• It is important that our customers understand that the calla lilies behave differently than other varieties of flowers.

• Sometimes the calla lilies are shipped with plastic sleeves around the flower heads.  Carefully remove the plastic sleeves upon arrival.

• When the calla lilies arrive, it is not uncommon for all the flowers in a bunch to bend in the same direction.  Place the flowers in bunches of 10 stems and turn the calla lilies so that the blooms are all bending out in different directions.  Secure the bunches with rubber bands placed at the bottom, in the middle, and up near the top of the stem.  This simple procedure will ensure that your calla lilies will stand tall and strong when put out for display.

• From time to time the small tips (the curly-Q's) of the calla lilies will turn brown.  Our world class calla lily farms have assured us that the browning of the tip is a normal occurrence and in no way compromises the quality or integrity of the flower.  These little tips are the first part of the lily to emerge from the ground and endure much as the flower grows and matures.  To improve the presentation if this condition exists, simply trim the tip (curly-Q) at an angle right below where it begins to turn brown.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

• As always, please call us if you have any questions.

Fresh Rose Petals

• With fresh rose petals you will want to avoid two things: (1) Moisture and (2) Freezing Temperatures.

• Our fresh rose petals are packed in bags of roughly 1,000 petals. When you receive the bags, carefully open one end of the bag, fold a paper towel in half, and slide it inside the bag between the bag and the rose petals. Flip the bag over and repeat the process (you will essentially be lining the inside of the bag with paper towels). The paper towels will catch any condensation which may form.

• We do recommend storing the fresh rose petals in a refrigerator. When you put them in the refrigerator keep your eye on them as every refrigerator is different in temperature and humidity. Often times there are a spot in the refrigerator that freezes... do not put your fresh rose petals in that area. If the fresh rose petals look as if they are drying out, remove them from the refrigerator and store them in a cool spot out of sunlight and away from heat (such as in the garage or basement) in the box they came in.

Freeze Dried Rose Petals

• The freeze dried petals you have received are a 100% natural product. They are bio-degradable, won’t wilt, won’t stain, and are not slippery under normal conditions.

• Store the freeze dried petals in a cool, dry place. To prolong the life of the freeze dried petals, avoid high heat, high humidity, and bright sunlight.

• Under proper care these rose petals can last for many months… even years! The amazing shelf-life of these rose petals means that you can have the freeze dried rose petals arrive ahead of your wedding or event and not worry about them wilting, perishing, becoming slippery, or having to keep them refrigerated as you would need to do with fresh rose petals.

• Please know that because these petals are a 100% natural product, every now and then a bug makes its way through the freeze drying process with the petals. If this does occur, please don’t worry - your rose petals will not be harmed in any way.

Bells of Ireland

• Of all of the flowers that we ship, the Bells of Ireland show dehydration the most. This product may look extremely tired upon arrival, but with proper hydration they will come back beautifully. Leave the Bells of Ireland in bunch form and cut the stems about 1" up from the bottom at an angle. These flowers may take up to 24 hours to re-hydrate properly.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Dendrobium Orchids

• Dendrobium Orchids are shipped with a water tube on each stem. Upon receipt of the flowers, remove the water tube, cut the stems about 1/2 inch up from the bottom, and put them in clean water.

• The stems of the Dendrobium Orchids need to be re-cut to encourage water uptake. Once the stems are cut and you have placed the flowers in water, you will see a dramatic improvement in their appearance as the flowers perk up and continue to open.

• If you have to transport the dendrobium orchids any great distance you can re-charge the water tubes.  To do this, simply remove the water tube, submerge it in a bucket of water and shake the tube.  As you do so, the tube will re-fill with water. Cut the stem about 1/2" up from the bottom and replace the water tube on the bottom of the stem.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Bouquet of the Month

• Upon receipt of the flowers, cut the stems about 1 inch from the bottom and put them in water. Leave the sleeves on the bouquets for at least 1 hour prior to arranging the bouquet. 

• When you are ready to arrange the flowers, remove the sleeve and trim the stems again another 1/2 inch before placing them in the arrangements.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Sunflowers

• Sunflowers are shipped in an early blooming stage and will take several days to open properly.

• Upon receipt of the Sunflowers remove any foliage that you do not need. The foliage on the Sunflowers is VERY absorbent and prevents water from reaching the flower head.

• Cut the stems about 1 inch from the bottom and place them in water.

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.

Hydrangea

• Hydrangea are very water-sensitive flowers. When you receive Hydrangea you will find a little water packet on the bottom of each stem.

• Carefully remove the little water packet and cut about 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the stem UNDER WATER (either submerged or under running water). Promptly place the flower in clean water.

• It is essential that these flowers be kept in water. If you remove the Hydrangea from water it will show fatigue quickly

• Re-cut the stems and change the water every 2 to 3 days or as needed.