Bouquet Arrived on a Hot Day? What to Do in the First Hour

If a bouquet arrives on a hot day, get it into fresh water and a cool room as soon as possible. Remove any packaging that prevents airflow, check the water level, trim the stems if the flowers are going into a vase, and keep the arrangement away from direct sunlight, warm windows and electrical appliances.

Flowers naturally lose water more quickly in warm conditions. A little attention during the first hour can therefore make a real difference to how well they settle and how long they remain fresh.

What to do in the first 10 minutes

Do not leave flowers in a parked car, on a sunny windowsill or beside a warm door while you decide where to put them. Even a short spell of concentrated heat can place cut flowers under unnecessary stress.

• Move them into the coolest suitable room in the house, out of direct sunlight.
• Check the water immediately. A hand-tied bouquet delivered in water should remain upright so that every stem can drink.
• Remove tight outer wrapping if you are transferring the bouquet to a vase, while leaving any binding around the stems in place if you want to preserve the florist’s design.
• Keep the flowers away from fruit bowls. Ripening fruit releases ethylene, which can shorten the life of some cut flowers.

Preparing a vase properly

Use a vase that has been thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water and rinsed well. Residue and bacteria in a vase can contaminate fresh water and block the stems’ ability to take it up.

Fill the vase with clean water and add the supplied flower food according to the packet instructions. More flower food is not better: the correct dilution matters.

Before placing the bouquet into the vase:

1. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline.
2. Use clean, sharp scissors or secateurs to recut approximately 1–2 cm from the bottom of each stem.
3. Make a clean angled cut rather than crushing or tearing the stem.
4. Place the flowers into water without leaving the freshly cut ends exposed for longer than necessary.

If you prefer an arrangement that arrives ready to display in water, browse our hand-tied bouquets and boxed flowers.

Where should flowers be placed during hot weather?

The best position is a cool, shaded part of the room with reasonable airflow but no strong draught. Avoid direct sun, conservatories, radiators, televisions, cookers and other appliances that produce heat.

A domestic fridge is not usually the best answer. It may be too cold for some flowers, the air can be very dry, and fruit or vegetables stored inside may release ethylene. A cool room is normally a safer and more practical choice at home.

Caring for the bouquet over the next few days

Warm weather makes regular care especially important. Check the water at least once a day because a mixed bouquet can drink surprisingly quickly.

• Top up the vase whenever the water level drops.
• Replace cloudy water rather than simply adding more.
• Wash the vase before refilling it.
• Remove fallen leaves, damaged petals and spent flowers promptly.
• Recut the stems every two or three days with clean tools.
• Move the bouquet to a cooler room overnight if the daytime room becomes very warm.

Do not mist every flower automatically. Some varieties dislike water sitting on their petals, and damp petals can encourage marking or mould. Keeping the stems well hydrated is more important.

What if the flowers already look limp?

A flower that has drooped in the heat is not necessarily finished. First, clean the vase and replace the water. Recut the affected stem with a sharp blade or scissors, then return it to fresh water in a cool, shaded place. Give it time to rehydrate before deciding whether it needs to be removed.

If just one stem has faded, take it out so that it does not affect the rest of the arrangement. If a newly delivered bouquet has a wider problem, take a clear photograph and contact the florist promptly rather than waiting several days.

Collecting or transporting flowers on a hot day

Plan to take flowers straight to their destination. Keep the vehicle cool, secure the bouquet upright and never place it where strong sunlight is magnified through the glass. The boot of a hot car is generally unsuitable unless the journey is very short and the space is temperature controlled.

When ordering locally, it also helps to make sure somebody can receive the flowers. Details about ordering and delivery from The Flower Fountain are available on our order and delivery page.

Quick answers about flower care in hot weather

How often should I change flower water in summer?

Change it whenever it becomes cloudy or develops debris. In hot weather, check it daily and clean the vase properly when replacing the water.

Should I put ice cubes in a flower vase?

Not as a general rule. Clean, fresh water at a suitable room temperature and correctly mixed flower food are more useful than making the water extremely cold.

Can I leave a hand-tied bouquet in its water bubble?

The water bubble is mainly designed to keep flowers hydrated during delivery and presentation. For longer-lasting flowers, transfer the bouquet to a clean vase as soon as practical, unless the florist has provided different care instructions.

Should I remove the string around a hand-tied bouquet?

You can leave the binding in place to preserve the arrangement’s shape. Remove the outer packaging and any foliage below the vase waterline.

Fresh flowers from your local Stoke-on-Trent florist

The Flower Fountain is an all-occasion florist based in Stoke-on-Trent, creating bouquets and arrangements for birthdays, anniversaries, thank-yous, sympathy and everyday moments. Browse our online flower shop or contact us if you need advice about caring for a particular arrangement.