A little extra care can make a big difference for any fresh flower bouquet. Your floral arrangement can last an additional 5-7 days longer, depending on the type of flower and the care they receive. The Society of American Florists provides these tips for longer-lasting blooms.

Flower Care Instructions

To help you enjoy your fresh flowers for as long as possible, please follow these simple care tips:

Keep Your Flowers Hydrated

Always keep your vase filled with fresh water, or if your arrangement is designed in floral foam, ensure the foam remains thoroughly soaked. Add the flower food provided by your florist to the water. Flower food supplies essential nutrients, balances the water’s pH, and helps reduce bacterial growth.

Be sure to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet. Most packets are intended to be mixed with either one pint or one quart of water. Do not add more water than recommended, as this will dilute the solution and reduce its effectiveness.

Check Water Daily

Inspect your arrangement every day to make sure it has plenty of clean, fresh water. If your flowers are arranged in a vase, replace the water regularly and, if possible, trim 1–2 inches from the stems using a sharp knife or scissors. Avoid crushing the stems, as this can restrict water uptake. After trimming, immediately place the flowers into fresh, lukewarm water.

For arrangements in floral foam, add water slowly each day until the foam is completely saturated.

Display in a Cool Location

For maximum vase life, keep your flowers in a cool area between 65°F and 72°F (18°C–22°C). Avoid placing arrangements in direct sunlight, near heating or air-conditioning vents, beneath ceiling fans, or close to heat-producing appliances. Hot, cold, or moving air can cause flowers to dehydrate more quickly.

Our Quality Promise

Every fresh flower we sell is professionally processed using the latest floral care techniques to maximize freshness and longevity. We are committed to providing the highest-quality flowers available in Baton Rouge and helping you enjoy their beauty for as long as possible.

Care for Loose Bunches or Boxed Flowers

To help your flowers stay fresh and beautiful for as long as possible, follow these simple care instructions:

Prepare Your Vase

Keep your flowers in a cool place until you’re ready to arrange them. Fill a clean vase with fresh water and add the flower food provided by your florist. For best results, wash the vase with dish detergent or an antibacterial cleaner before use to help prevent bacterial growth.

Be sure to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet. Using more water than recommended will dilute the solution and reduce its effectiveness.

Prepare the Stems

Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline, as submerged foliage encourages bacterial growth that can shorten the life of your flowers.

Using a sharp knife or clean scissors, trim 1–2 inches from the bottom of each stem at an angle. Immediately place the flowers into the prepared vase with the flower food solution.

Keep Flowers Fresh

Display your arrangement in a cool location away from direct sunlight, heating and air-conditioning vents, ceiling fans, and heat-producing appliances. Change the water every two to three days, clean the vase, and re-cut the stems to maximize vase life.

Tips for Selecting Loose Flowers

If you’re creating your own arrangement, choose flowers that have:

Firm, upright petals
Buds that are just beginning to open
Fresh, healthy green foliage

Avoid flowers with yellowing, spotted, or drooping leaves, as these are signs of age.

Caring for Woody Stems

When arranging flowering branches such as quince, forsythia, or lilac, use sharp pruning shears to make a fresh cut. Place the stems immediately into warm water mixed with fresh flower food to encourage blooms to open fully.

Visit Rickey Heroman’s

Looking for fresh flowers? Rickey Heroman’s offers beautiful cash-and-carry flowers every day. Stop by on Fridays to take advantage of our weekly flower specials.

Fresh Flower Care

Making your flowers last longer	Enjoy Your Flowers Longer Every cut flower variety has its own natural vase life, so it’s always a good idea to ask your florist how long you can expect your arrangement to stay fresh. While some blooms naturally last longer than others, proper care can significantly extend the beauty of any bouquet. With just a little attention and the right care, you can enjoy your fresh flowers for days longer. Follow these simple tips to help keep your blooms looking vibrant, healthy, and beautiful for as long as possible.

Floral Food and why you should use it	Why Use Flower Food? Flower food is specially formulated to help fresh flowers stay beautiful longer. It contains a balanced blend of nutrients that feed the blooms, maintain the proper water pH, and help prevent the growth of bacteria that can shorten the life of your flowers. Using flower food is one of the simplest and most effective ways to extend the freshness and beauty of your arrangement. For the best results, always follow the mixing directions on the packet exactly as instructed. Adding too much or too little water can reduce its effectiveness and may even shorten the life of your flowers.

When Your Flowers Arrive in Floral Foam	Many professionally designed arrangements are created in water-saturated floral foam to keep flowers fresh during delivery and display. To help your arrangement last as long as possible, keep the floral foam consistently moist. Check it daily and add fresh water slowly until the foam is fully saturated. Pour the water gently into the center of the arrangement, allowing the foam to absorb it without overflowing. The flower food added by your florist at the time the arrangement was designed will continue to nourish the flowers, so there is no need to add additional flower food. Simply keeping the floral foam well hydrated will help your arrangement remain fresh and beautiful for days to come.

When Your Flowers Arrive in Floral Foam	Many professionally designed arrangements are created in water-saturated floral foam to keep flowers fresh during delivery and display. To help your arrangement last as long as possible, keep the floral foam consistently moist. Check it daily and add fresh water slowly until the foam is fully saturated. Pour the water gently into the center of the arrangement, allowing the foam to absorb it without overflowing. The flower food added by your florist at the time the arrangement was designed will continue to nourish the flowers, so there is no need to add additional flower food. Simply keeping the floral foam well hydrated will help your arrangement remain fresh and beautiful for days to come.
⚠️ Important Pet Safety Notice: Cats and Lilies	According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, certain types of lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Ingesting any part of the plant—including the petals, leaves, pollen, stems, or even the water from the vase—can cause severe kidney damage and may lead to kidney failure. If you have cats in your home, we strongly recommend keeping lilies out of their reach or choosing a pet-friendly floral alternative. If you believe your cat has come into contact with or ingested any part of a lily, contact your veterinarian immediately or reach out to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435. Prompt treatment is critical. Lilies do not pose the same risk to humans or most other household pets, but caution should always be exercised around animals. For more information, visit: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Flower Arrangement Information and fresh flower Care