Nothing beats a fresh bouquet — and nothing is sadder than watching it droop after two days. The good news: with a few simple habits, most cut flowers will last a week or more, and some (looking at you, carnations and baby's breath) can go two weeks and beyond. This is our complete care guide, covering the basics that work for every bouquet plus specific tips for roses, lilies, carnations, gerberas and chrysanthemums.
The 6 golden rules for any bouquet
- Trim the stems. Cut 2–3cm off each stem at a 45° angle with a sharp knife or scissors before arranging. The angled cut increases water uptake and stops stems sitting flat on the vase bottom.
- Use a clean vase and fresh water. Bacteria are the number one flower killer. Wash the vase with soap, fill with room-temperature water, and change the water every 1–2 days.
- Strip low leaves. Any foliage below the waterline will rot and breed bacteria. Remove it.
- Feed them. Use the flower food sachet that comes with your Purpink bouquet. No sachet? A teaspoon of sugar plus a few drops of household bleach (or a splash of clear soda) in the water works.
- Location matters. Keep flowers away from direct sunlight, heat, fans, and ripening fruit — fruit releases ethylene gas, which ages flowers fast.
- Re-trim every water change. A fresh cut every couple of days keeps stems drinking.
Roses
Roses are thirsty. Top up water daily and remove the outer "guard petals" (the slightly bruised outermost petals — florists leave them on to protect the bloom in transit). If a rose head droops early, re-cut the stem and submerge the whole flower, stem and head, in cool water for 30–60 minutes — it often revives completely. Well-cared-for roses last 7–10 days. Shop fresh Kenyan roses.
Lilies
Buy or receive lilies with buds just starting to open — they'll bloom over several days for a longer show. As each bloom opens, carefully pluck out the orange anthers (the pollen tips): this extends the flower's life and saves your tablecloth from stubborn pollen stains. Remove spent blooms promptly so the buds keep opening. Lilies typically last 10–14 days. Important: lilies are toxic to cats — keep them well out of reach of pets. Shop lily bouquets.
Carnations
Carnations are marathon runners — 2–3 weeks is normal with good care. Cut the stem between the nodes (the bumpy joints), not on them, as the nodes block water uptake. They're especially sensitive to ethylene, so keep them far from the fruit bowl. Shop carnations.
Gerberas
Gerberas have soft, fuzzy stems that rot easily — use shallow water (about a third of the vase) and change it daily. If heads droop, they can be perked up by wiring or by re-cutting and standing the stems in deep water for an hour, well supported. Keep them cool and expect 7–10 days.
Chrysanthemums (mums)
Mums are among the longest-lasting cut flowers — up to two weeks or more. Strip their abundant lower foliage aggressively (it fouls water fast), re-cut woody stems, and deadhead any spent blooms. Shop chrysanthemums.
Reviving a tired bouquet
Bouquet flagging early? Try this rescue routine: re-cut all stems, scrub the vase, refill with lukewarm water and flower food, remove anything dead or slimy, and move the vase somewhere cool overnight. Most bouquets bounce back noticeably by morning.
Quick answers
How often should I change the water? Every 1–2 days, with a fresh stem trim each time.
Does sugar really work? Yes — sugar feeds the flowers, but pair it with a few drops of bleach to stop bacteria, or you'll feed the bacteria too.
Should flowers go in the fridge overnight? If you have space, yes — florists chill flowers for a reason. Avoid storing them next to fruit.
Start with the freshest flowers and the rest is easy — our bouquets are prepared fresh daily with same-day delivery in Nairobi (order before 4pm) and next-day delivery across Kenya. For a printable version, see our flower care guide.
