FLOWER CARE & PLANNING GUIDE

• Sparkling clean water, clean vases, clean snips

• Cool temperatures - 40 - 50F to store and as cool as possible for display

• A fresh snip with clean scissors when stem ends are brown, soggy or soft

• Flower food, if you have it

• When faded blooms are removed from the vase*

5 - 7 Days - garden roses, peonies, single stem cosmos, sweet peas, basil, poppies,  scabiosa

7 - 14 Days - ranunculus, snapdragons, stock, zinnias, multi-stem cosmos, celosia, herbs

14 +/- Days - marigolds, lisianthus, matricaria, eucalyptus, strawflower, grasses​

• Direct sun, wind and high temperatures

• Being left out of water

• Being stored near ripening fruit or veg*

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* Fading flowers and ripening fruits and veg release hormones or gases that signal other flowers to drop petals and move into seed production mode, in turn, decreasing vase life.

• Be sure to set aside adequate time to arrange flowers if they are to be used for an event. Arranging for beginners can take a surprising amount of time. 

• Floral design can be intimidating - it doesn't hurt to practice with pre-made bouquets and flowers from the garden. Get inspiration from images, art, nature.

• An ounce of preparation goes a long way. Be sure to have lots of space, clean vases, floral tape, chicken wire, ribbons, etc. ready to go before design begins.

• My favorite vases for arrangements are fluted pint-sized mason jars, or small bowls or compotes with a 5 inch opening. 

• Enjoy the process, be creative, don't stress!

• Stems may come with blooms that are closed - exposed to light and warmth, they will open.

• Branched stems like cosmos, will lose blooms as new buds open. This is normal. Snip off spent blooms and wait for the plump buds to open.

•  Blooms like poppies, will close in the dark and open in the light.

• Different flower varieties have varied vase life. Arranged flowers and bouquets will generally last 7-10 days with proper care. Flowers exposed to outdoor/event conditions will reliably last 5-8 hours in tip-top shape. 

• Assume all flowers are toxic to pets and humans if consumed. Please keep out of reach of pets and very young children.

• Pre-cool your car and turn a/c to the lowest setting when transporting flowers.

• Secure arrangements for transport - towels work well, snuggled in between vases.

• Once on location, continue to keep arrangements as cool and shaded as possible.

• If photographing florals, take photos early. Bouquets should be returned to water when not being photographed.

• Event guests love to take flowers home with them, offer them as a 'thank you' for celebrating with you and to make clean-up easy.

• Compost or dry flowers post-event. WF Co.'s flowers are grown organically and are safe to compost in the home garden.