How To Care For Your Cut Flowers Arranged In Floral Foam

Have you ever felt the disappointment of a stunning floral arrangement fading too soon? Fear not, as we're here to share some fresh insights and tricks to ensure your cut flowers arranged in floral foam stand the test of time.

Let's debunk the myth that taking care of cut flowers is a daunting task. Even if you're not a seasoned gardener, a little attention to water levels and ambient room temperature can go a long way.

Now, let's delve into the realm of Floral Foam arrangements:

In our experience, flowers arranged in Floral Foam tend to outlast those designed in a vase with water, provided the foam stays consistently moist, and the flowers remain undisturbed. Think of floral foam as a sponge, with flowers absorbing water from it. Brands like Oasis and Aquafoam are our go-to choices for floral foam.

Here's a quick guide to ensure your floral foam arrangements flourish:

- Keep the floral foam consistently wet, and don't forget to dissolve flower food in the water. Add around 1/2 cup of fresh water every 2-3 days to keep your flowers hydrated and thriving. When adding water, find a spot on the back of the arrangement and pour it gently onto the foam. Ensure the foam stays wet, but avoid spilling water on furniture. You can use a clean turkey baster for this so as not to move the flowers.

It will never hurt to add more water as often as you like, the worst thing that can happen is that it might overflow.

When floral foam is wet it has a different color than when it is dry:

Left: wet floral foam (darker), Right: dry floral foam (lighter)

- Don't move the flowers (second most important tip) during water replenishment, as doing so can create an air bubble between the end of the stem and the foam, hindering water intake and leading to a shorter lifespan.

- Never pour water directly into flowers, as excess moisture can cause mold and hasten the demise of the entire arrangement.

If you receive one of our unique flower arrangements that looks like the one below, scroll down for a picture that shows how it's built.

We sometimes include one flower inside the vase that will have water for as long as it needs it so you only need to add water to the top part where the foam is.

This is how the arrangement looks without the flowers and this is the foam that needs to be always wet.

Now that you're well-versed in the art of floral foam, let's come back to the general tips for keeping your cut flowers fresher for longer:

1. Shield your flowers from direct sunlight and air currents, as they prefer cool, dark places.

2. Maintain a cool room temperature to extend the lifespan of your arrangement.

3. Change the water every 3-4 days or when it becomes cloudy, and always dissolve flower food following package guidelines. In the case of cut flowers designed in floral foam, just add more water to the foam to keep it always wet.

4. Remove wilted flowers and petals every 3-4 days to prevent bacteria from harming the healthy ones but don't move the healthy flowers around in the foam to avoid air bubbles.

5. Keep your arrangement away from electronic devices and heat-producing appliances.

6. Steer clear of placing flowers near food or fruits, as they release ethylene, causing faster maturation and a shorter lifespan.

In conclusion, embrace the beauty of cut flowers without fear. Create a cozy ambiance in your home, office, or favorite spot by following these simple yet effective tips. Share your flower care hacks in the comments below and share this post with someone who needs help!

​How to Water and Get Your Orchid to Re-Bloom

Are you struggling to keep your orchids alive and blooming? Learn the essential watering techniques and tips to help your orchids thrive in this detailed guide.

I know you’re here just to know how to water and make your orchids re-bloom (click here to jump to how to re-bloom orchids), correct? So, let’s cut straight to the chase:

There are four important things that, in our opinion, you need to do for your orchid to re-bloom. I’ve noticed that once orchids rebloom, they’re not as spectacular as when you first got them, but they will still be incredibly beautiful.

These are some of the methods that have worked for us:

1) Sunlight

Your orchid needs enough sunlight. Harsh sunlight will cause orchids to burn and discolor its leaves, not enough sunlight will prevent them from re-blooming and rot. I like to place my orchids in a south facing window all winter and then in an east or northwest facing window during the summer.

A good rule is that the larger the leaves, the less light it needs.

Harsh sunlight will cause orchids to burn and discolor its leaves, not enough sunlight will prevent them from re-blooming and rot.

2) Water

You need to water your orchid regularly but without overwatering it; the soil must feel moist but not wet. Really check the soil before you add more water, let it get dry, wait between 7-10 days every time you add more water (time will vary depending on the humidity of their environment, so feel the soil at least 1-2 inches deep and check if its dry and if it needs water).

You do not want the soil to be very wet otherwise, your orchid will tend to rot.

If the pot doesn't have drainage, make sure the roots are not under water, flip it upside down if necessary to get out any excess water.

You can also mist the leaves and flowers when in bloom as often as possible to keep them fresh and strong.

Only water orchids when soil feels dry and roots look silver.

Mist leaves and flowers as often as possible.

The water you use should ideally be lukewarm or at room temperature.

There are many ways to water orchids but these are two that work best for us:

- If you can remove the orchid from the decorative pot while it still has a plastic container or if the decorative pot has a drainage: fill the decorative pot with water and let the orchid soak for about 20 minutes, then remove the orchid from the water and let it drain completely before placing it back in the decorative pot. If you use this method, you will only need to repeat this process once or twice a month, depending on environment conditions as explained before.

- If you can't remove the orchid from the decorative container because it is part of a tropical dish garden or if the decorative container doesn't have a drainage: add about 1/2 cup (4 oz) of water per plant only when it needs it or place an ice cube on each plant's roots and let it melt. If you use this method you will need to repeat it every week or as often as needed, whenever their soil feels dry.

3) Temperature

Orchids need warm temperatures to thrive. This is particularly important for orchids to re-bloom, for them to be happy in the temperature of the environment they’re in. There are three different adviced temperatures for orchid's varieties. So, depending on the type of orchid you have the wide range will be from 65 F to 90 F, but be sure that the temperature of the environment is correct for the specific type of orchid that you have.

Warm Temperature. Ideal for Vanda & Phalaenopsis Orchids. Nighttime from 65 F and up. Daytime from 75 F to 90 F.

Vanda Orchid

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Intermediate Temperature. Ideal for Cattleya & Paphiopedilum Orchids. Nighttime from 55 F to 60 F. Daytime from 70 F to 80 F.

Cattleya Orchid

Paphiopedilum Orchid

Cool Temperature. Ideal for Cymbidium & Dendrobium Orchids. Nighttime from 45 F to 55 F. Daytime from 60 F to 70 F.

Cymbidium Orchid

Dendrobium Orchid

The warmer the temperature you keep your orchid in, the more often you may need to water it if the humidity is also low.

Also, keep them away from drafts and heat sources, these will dry them out and make them die faster.

4) Food

Lastly, to get your orchids to re-bloom you need to feed them orchid food on a regular basis, every two weeks is ideal. Check label instructions for accurate measurements.

The Most Important Secret For Re-Blooming Orchids

First, make sure to keep watering and taking care of your plant even after all the flowers are gone.

Then, there are two ways of getting your orchids to re-bloom, since they re-bloom in two different ways:

1) Wait until the last bloom drops and cut the stem down to two nodes (the brown bands along the spike) below where its last growth was, and it might bloom again on the same stem.

2) Once your orchid drops all of its blooms let the entire stem get brown and cut it all the way at the base where it meets the plant (if it doesn't turn brown, don't cut it, it might re-bloom on the same stem).

Eventually, the energy will tend to go back into the plant and that is why it turns brown and why you need to wait for it to be completely brown, so the entire energy goes back into the roots and it recovers enough energy to grow back stronger in several months. Your plant will generate a new spike and re-bloom on it!

You can alternate these two ways of cutting the stem, so your plant gets stronger with each blooming.

It is also a clever idea to re-pot your orchid with orchid potting mix once all the blooms drop and the stem dries out.

If your plant is ready to move on, it might also generate a new plant out of the last spike before dying, I currently have a plant trying to do this and will post pictures once she's finished!

To sum up, orchids need intermediate sunlight, little water, warm room temperature, and regular orchid food.

I hope this info helps you take better care of your orchids, and you’re able to make them re-bloom! If you have any comments or questions, leave them below!

Conctact us for sending an orchid in Gaithersburg, MD or surrounding cities. We have different options to choose from!

How to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer in 2025: 6 Easy Steps

Are you familiar with the feeling of receiving a beautiful floral arrangement, only to be saddened by the knowledge that it won't last very long? Well, as your trusted local florist, we have gathered some valuable tips and tricks over the years that we would love to share with you.

In this post, we share with you 6 easy steps to help your cut flowers and dish gardens/plants last longer and avoid frustrations. Flowers are usually designed in a vase, wrapped or in floral foam.

The first and most important tip is to not be afraid of flowers or plants. Even if you don't have a green thumb, it is not that hard to take care of them, you just have to pay attention to the water level in the vase and the overall room temperature where you place them. By just doing these two things you are already winning.

Now that you got past the fear and frustration, you should do the next:

If your Flowers are in a Vase:

1) Keep flowers away from direct sunlight and air currents. Cut flowers have a limited life because they don't have roots, so it's harder for them to take nutrients in. They don't like the sun anymore; they prefer dark and cold places, and the sunlight will dry them out faster.

2) Keep your arrangement in a cool room. We keep our flowers in a 38 F cooler, so trust me, they really like cool rooms. If you ever wondered how florists accomplish this, there are two ways. With a regular floral cooler like the ones they have at Bush Refrigeration and with a CoolBot which hardwires a regular window ac, this is the one we use.

3) Change the water every 2 to 3 days or every time the water is not clear. Remember to dissolve flower food in the water following the package guidelines (around 1/4 package per 1/2 cup of water).

To change the water place the arrangement under running water (without it touching the flowers) and wait until the water inside the vase looks clear, then dissolve the flower food. Just make sure all the stem's ends are under the water but not the foliage.

The flower food is important because it prevents bacteria from growing and damaging your flowers.

4) Remove wilted flowers or bad-looking petals every 2-3 days; these produce bacteria that harm good flowers.

5) Avoid placing your arrangement near electronic objects such as TVs, radios, or kitchen appliances; they produce heat that may damage your flowers.

6) Also avoid placing your flowers near food or fruits, these produce a gas called ethylene which makes flowers mature faster and die faster.

If your Flowers are Wrapped:

- Remove the wrapping paper by cutting it on the bottom or leave it on but making sure all the stems will be under the water. - Choose your favorite vase and fill it with water that has flower food dissolved according to package guidelines.

- Cut 1/4 inch of every stem, remove any excess foliage so that it won't touch the water, and place your arrangement in the vase you selected. Since your flowers stayed some time without enough water while being delivered, the pores of the stems might have dried and the flowers will not drink as much water. By trimming the stems, new pores will be in contact with the water, extending the life of your flower bouquet. Now that your flowers are in a vase go to the previous item and follow the tips for "flowers in a vase".

If your Flowers are designed in Floral Foam:

Flowers arranged in Floral Foam, in our experience, tend to last longer than in water as long as the foam stays wet and flowers never get moved around. The floral foam acts as a sponge and flowers absorb the water in it. Floral foam is used when a more intricate design is needed. There are some popular brands and types of floral foam out there but two of the ones we use the most are the ones made by Oasis and the ones made by Aquafoam.

- Keep the floral foam always wet (don't forget to dissolve the flower food in the water). Add fresh water (around 1/2 cup) every 2-3 days or as needed. By doing this, you are making sure that your flowers are always drinking water making them last longer.

To add water just look for a spot on the back of the container where you can see the foam and gently pour fresh water on it (with flower food dissolved in it to prevent bacteria from growing and damaging your flowers) until the foam looks wet. Be careful not to spill water on any furniture, it's best to add water on the kitchen's sink. While adding water, make sure not to move any flower. If a flower comes out of the foam, it will create an air bubble between the stem and the foam, interfering with the flower's water intake and making it die faster.

Also, be careful not to pour water into any flower as this will create excess moisture inside the flower creating mold and getting all the arrangement to die faster. It will never hurt to add more water as often as you like, the worst thing that can happen is that it might overflow. When floral foam is wet it has a different color than when it is dry:

Left: Wet Foam (darker) Right: Dry Foam (lighter)

Now that you know more about floral foam, go to the previous item and follow the tips for "flowers in a vase".

If you receive a Plant or a Dish Garden:

- Keep your plant away from air currents, and above 70F. Some sunlight is needed. - Remove leaves that start to wilt every week. Every plant has special care like how much water they need and how frequently they need it, for example, orchids and succulents only need water once a week. To learn more about how to care for succulents click here. To learn more about how to care for your orchids click here. The general guideline for a live plant to last longer is to always keep the soil wet without soaking it unless said plant prefers a drier medium. You can add around 6oz water every week if it needs it. When live plants have too much water, they drown and the roots tend to rot. A good trick to know if your plant needs water is to insert a toothpick for a couple of minutes into the soil, if it comes out dry, it needs water. To learn more about how to care for your houseplants click here.

To sum up, don't be afraid of cut flowers, they are pretty and make your home, office, or favorite place cozier. Just remember to keep them in a cool room, away from air currents and heat sources, and to make sure they have enough fresh water.

Do you know any more tricks or tips for cut flowers to last longer? Let us know in the comments below!