Flowers from Covent Garden are renowned for their beauty and vibrancy, gracing homes, weddings, and businesses throughout the area. To ensure your Covent Garden flowers remain as fresh and striking as the day they arrived, it’s essential to provide the right care. As leading Covent Garden florists, our advice is grounded in years of local experience. Whether you’ve just received a bouquet or are planning to send one, discover our expert tips for keeping your blooms at their very best.
Covent Garden is not just an iconic London district—it’s a bustling hub for exceptional floral artistry and exquisite flower varieties. The flowers you’ll find from Covent Garden florists are often fresher and more unique than elsewhere, but they can also be sensitive to their new indoor environment. From exposure to central heating to the diverse weather that London sees, local conditions can impact how well your bouquet lasts. Our florists combine tradition, modern techniques, and a love for flowers to ensure every arrangement stands the test of time.
1. Unwrap Carefully
The moment your delivery arrives, unwrap your flowers gently. Remove any outer packaging but keep the wetted tissue or hydration wrap around the stems until you’re ready to arrange them in water. This slows down moisture loss and keeps the flowers perky during their transition.
2. Trim with Precision
Using a clean, sharp knife or florists’ scissors, cut 2-3cm off each stem at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area for drinking and prevents stems from sitting flat at the bottom of the vase, limiting water uptake.
3. Remove Foliage Below the Waterline
Leaves submerged in water begin to decompose and foster bacteria. Strip away any foliage that will sit below the vase waterline, helping your flowers stay fresher for longer.
Fresh Water is Key
Change your vase water every two days. Each time you do this, thoroughly clean your vase to remove any slime or residue that encourages bacteria. Refill with room-temperature water, as extreme cold or heat can shock delicate blooms.
Use Flower Food
Most Covent Garden flowers come with a sachet of flower food. Dissolve this completely in the fresh water, as it contains both nutrients and antibacterial agents. If you run out, a teaspoon of sugar and a couple of drops of bleach can be a stopgap, but always try to use professional flower food for optimal results.
Stem Maintenance
Trim the stems again every two to three days, even just a small amount. This opens up the drinking channels and keeps flowers hydrated, boosting their vase life.
Consider your bouquet’s environment. Flowers are best displayed in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight, radiators, and draughts. Covent Garden florists often advise avoiding fruit bowls: ripening fruit emits ethylene gas, which can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your bouquet.
If you’re decorating an event or wedding, set arrangements in the chosen spaces as close to event time as possible—unless you have supplies to keep flowers cool and hydrated before display.
Add a Penny
For tulips and daffodils—a common Covent Garden flower—florists sometimes recommend adding a clean copper coin to the vase. Slightly acidifying the water helps slow down bacterial growth, which these varieties are susceptible to.
Spray the Petals
Lightly mist delicate flowers with water morning and night to keep them fresh, especially in centrally heated rooms.
Ice Cube Trick
On hot days or in stuffy offices, a few ice cubes in the vase can cool the water and help prolong freshness—just be sure not to shock delicate blooms with overly cold water.
Spring: Change water more regularly during hayfever season, as pollen buildup can speed up wilting. Tulips and other bulbs often continue to grow in the vase—trim their stems every other day for neatness.
Summer: Flowers wilt quicker in heat. Display arrangements away from windows and heat sources. Top up water daily.
Autumn: Leaves can drop and clog water. Check and clean your vase more regularly, and be gentle with more fragile seasonal varieties like dahlias and chrysanthemums.
Winter: Central heating can dry the air. Mist arrangements daily and avoid placing flowers near radiators or appliances. Amaryllis and winter roses thrive with cooler, stable temperatures.
Weddings, birthdays, and corporate events deserve flawless flowers. Our Covent Garden florists recommend:
Bent necks? For roses and gerberas, cut stems afresh and submerge heads in lukewarm water for 30 minutes.
Wilting despite care? Remove the worst affected stems, trim the remainder, and refresh water—sometime flowers just need a reset.
Algae in vase? Wash vase with a little vinegar and rinse thoroughly before refilling.
Caring for Covent Garden flowers is about more than just water and vases—it’s about showcasing their beauty, celebrating the seasons, and enjoying the passion behind every arrangement. With these Covent Garden flower care tips from our experienced local florists, serving households, weddings, and businesses, your bouquets will delight and inspire for days to come. Remember: a little daily attention goes a long way; treat your flowers as the living art they are, and they’ll reward you with lasting charm and fragrance.
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