By the O'Hara Florist studio team, 12121 W Olympic Blvd, West Los Angeles · October 2026
To make a bouquet last, trim the stems at an angle, put them in clean cool water, change the water every two days, and keep the flowers away from direct sun, heaters and fruit. Those four habits matter more than any additive.
Day one
- Unwrap and trim. Cut 1–2 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors.
- Strip low leaves. Remove any leaves that would sit under water; they rot and cloud it.
- Use a clean vase filled with cool water, and add the flower food if one came with the bouquet.
Every two days
Change the water, rinse the vase and trim the stems again. Remove any flower that is fading so it does not shorten the life of the others.
Where to put the vase
Away from windows with direct sun, heaters, air-conditioning vents and fruit bowls. Ripening fruit releases ethylene, which makes flowers age faster.
Tips by flower
- Roses: if a head droops, recut the stem under water and leave it in deep water for an hour. See roses.
- Peonies: they arrive in bud or half-open and open in one to three days in a warm room. See peonies.
- Hydrangeas: they drink a lot; if a head wilts, submerge it in cool water for about 20 minutes. See hydrangeas.
- Tulips: they keep growing and bend toward light; use a tall vase and turn it daily. See tulips.
Boxes and baskets
Arrangements in boxes and baskets sit in wet floral foam or a water source. Add a little water every day or two so the foam never dries out.
Want flowers delivered today? We design every bouquet in our West LA studio and deliver the same day across Los Angeles when you order by 2 PM. Call (424) 999-9880 or shop bouquets.
