Assorted Double Stem Orchid
Flower Care Guide
Flower Care
how to care for your flowers
Flower Care Guide
Our basic flower care tips for healthy and long lasting flowers and foliage.
Water Level
Flowers drink a lot of water, so your vase should be full. This helps increase the turgor pressure of the plant cells, allowing the cells to be firm and healthy. So basically, fill the vase almost all the way up.
Water Cleanliness
The goal is to reduce bacteria from blocking the plant cells, preventing the cells from drinking up the all the water. Vase should be washed with soap and water and water refreshed every few days, as the water becomes murky.
Water Temperature
Cold temperatures generally slows down the opening of flowers. Warm temperatures expedites the opening. If your flowers are tight buds and you want them to open more quickly, give them a fresh cut and place in warm water. We usually recommend tepid water, not too cold and not too warm.
Room Temperature
Flowers last longer in cooler temperatures. We recommend keeping out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Some people like to put their arrangements outside overnight for a chance to cool down. Flowers don’t like zero or near zero temperatures so not recommended for winter months.
Cutting Each Stem
Ideally, every time you change the vase water, you should be giving your stems a fresh cut, at a sharp angle, with sharp clean tools. This increases the surface area of the open stem, allowing more water to enter the stem at one time.
Flower Foods and Additives
The white powder packets that you often get with flowers is a combination of three ingredients. An acid, a sugar and a disinfectant. The Acid to open up the stems for hydration, a sugar to feed the flower pushing it to open, and a disinfectant to keep the bacteria down.
We don’t recommend flower additives and don’t believe they are necessary for at home use.
A clean, fresh vase and some basic maintenance will go along ways to making your flowers last longer.
How Much Water?
Your orchid needs consistent moisture. Watering once a week is ideal, and twice a week in the summer. Never water the centre of the plant as this can cause rotting, water around the leaf base. Always make sure the orchid is drained and is NOT sitting in water.
Light Requirements
Orchids need a minimum of 6 hours of bright light with no draft.
Feeding your Orchid
Orchids need a fertilizer with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Use one a month.