Using a pair of sharp scissors, cut a couple of centimetres off each stem at a diagonal angle. Some flowers, like roses and peonies, will have 'guard petals' - these are the very outer petals and are often green or brown tinged. These can be removed and will instantly freshen up your blooms.
Find a sparklingly clean vase (flowers can be a bit fussy, they like things clean!) and fill it around a third full with fresh water. Don’t forget to use the flower food that comes with your blooms - it helps keep the water cleaner for longer as well as nourishing the stems and really does extend the life of your bouquet!
Add your blooms to the vase, making sure to remove any leaves or foliage that fall below the waterline, as these will cause bacteria to grow and shorten the life of your other flowers.
To help your flowers last, keep them in a cool room with no draughts and out of direct sunlight. In cooler weather, be sure to keep them away from radiators as these will dehydrate your blooms.
Fresh flowers last longest when they're kept in fresh water. Every couple of days, cut another centimetre off the end of each stem, clean the vase well to remove bacteria and add fresh cold water.
Usually you’ll spot some stems in your arrangement starting to fade sooner than others. Remove these as they’ll shorten the life of your other flowers. Change it up by putting your last few blooms in smaller jars and jugs to enjoy them for longer!