Ever bring home a gorgeous bouquet only to find it wilting within days? You’re not alone.
Summer flowers are stunning, bright, bold, and full of life. But when the sun’s blazing and the days are hot, keeping those blooms fresh can feel like a challenge. Luckily, with just a few simple tips (straight from our shop here in Edmonton), you can stretch the life of your bouquet and enjoy every last petal.
At The Lavender House, we want your flowers to stay as beautiful as the moment they arrived. Whether it’s a gift, a centrepiece, or a little treat for yourself, here’s how to help your summer flowers thrive.
Give Them a Clean Start
First things first: start fresh. The moment your bouquet gets home, make sure it goes into a clean vase. We mean squeaky clean. Even a little leftover residue from a past bouquet can introduce bacteria and shorten the life of your new flowers.
Once your vase is ready, give each stem a fresh cut. Use sharp scissors or shears and snip about an inch off the bottom at a slight angle. This helps them soak up more water right away, which is especially important in the summer heat.
Skip the Flower Food
We get asked this a lot: “Should I use the flower food?”
Our answer? You can skip it.
We’ve found that clean water is the real secret. Flower food often contains preservatives that aren’t always necessary, especially for seasonal flowers that are already in great shape. In fact, keeping things simple often works better.
Instead of adding anything to the vase, just focus on changing the water regularly, and keeping the vase clean.
Change the Water Often
This is a big one. Water is the lifeline for your flowers, and in warmer weather, bacteria grows faster. That bacteria is what makes the stems slimy, the water cloudy, and the petals start to fade.
To keep your bouquet looking its best, change the water every two days. Pour out the old water, give the vase a quick rinse, and fill it with fresh, cool water. If you have time, rinse the stems as well before placing them back.
It takes less than five minutes, and it can easily add a few more days to your bouquet’s life.
Keep Them Cool (and Out of Direct Sunlight)
We know flowers look great in a sunny window, but they don’t love the heat as much as you might think.
Direct sun, warm rooms, or even being too close to a vent or appliance can cause your blooms to wilt faster. In summer, this effect doubles. The heat causes water to evaporate more quickly, and the flowers work harder just to stay hydrated.
So give your bouquet a cooler home. A shaded table, a hallway, or even a bedroom away from the afternoon sun will do the trick. They’ll still brighten the room, just without soaking up all that heat.
Remove What’s Not Thriving
As the days go by, some flowers will naturally fade faster than others. That’s totally normal.
When you see petals dropping or stems starting to droop, gently remove them. Not only does this keep your arrangement looking fresh, but it also prevents aging flowers from affecting the others around them.
It’s also a good idea to remove any leaves sitting below the waterline in the vase. These tend to break down quickly, and they’re often the reason vase water turns murky.
A quick five-second tidy-up can make your bouquet look good as new again.
Ask Us About Your Flowers
Every flower has its own personality. Some like cooler temps, others need more frequent trimming. The good news? When you order from a real florist in Edmonton, like us, you’re not guessing.
We’re always happy to tell you what flowers are in your bouquet and how to take care of them. Seasonal flowers (like local dahlias, sunflowers, or peonies) can have different needs than tropical varieties or classic roses.
And if you’re not sure what you’ve got in the vase, just reach out. We love helping our customers care for their blooms.
Edmonton Flower Delivery That Comes with Tips, Not Just a Tag
When you order flowers from a big-name website, they usually arrive with generic instructions and maybe a packet of powder. But when you order flowers in Edmonton from a local shop like The Lavender House, you get more than a delivery.
You get hand-picked, seasonal flowers, wrapped with care, and actual advice on how to enjoy them longer. Whether it’s for a birthday, a thank-you gift, or a treat for yourself, we’re here to help you get the most out of your bouquet.
So the next time your flowers arrive, take a few extra minutes to give them the care they deserve. A clean vase, cool water, and a shady spot go a long way.
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Our floral subscriptions bring fresh, seasonal blooms to your door weekly, biweekly, or monthly. It’s one of the best ways to keep your home feeling bright, calm, and colourful all summer long, without having to remember to reorder.
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Because flowers aren’t just for special occasions. Sometimes, they’re the thing that makes an ordinary day feel special.