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In most cases, you’ll have to really cut down the stems so the bouquet fits into your vase. Hold up a stem next to your vase so you know how much to cut from the stem.

If bacteria starts to grow in the water, it causes the ends of the stems to close up so they don’t draw up water.

Washing the vase thoroughly removes bacteria that could make your flowers wilt faster. Although you can use any style of vase for your flowers, choose one that has an opening that’s wide enough to easily fit all of the stems. If you crowd or shove the stems into a narrow vase, you could damage them.

If your bouquet has flowers that grew from bulbs, like tulips or hyacinths, use cold water instead. The flower food contains chemicals that kill bacteria, an acid that helps the stem suck up water, and sugar that feeds the flowers. Adding a drop of bleach to the water can help kill bacteria so your flowers last longer. [7] X Expert Source Jeanne WalkerFlorist Expert Interview. 15 April 2020.

If you left a few leaves on the stems and they fall into the water, take them out immediately so they don’t disintegrate in the water and introduce bacteria.

If you do want to place the bouquet in a window, pull a curtain across it during the brightest part of the day so your flowers get a little protection.

Move strong fans away from the bouquet so they don’t blow directly on the flowers. Strong wind or fans can blow the petals off.

You may need to adjust the shelves in your fridge so you can fit the vase without bending the flowers.

Cloudy, yellow water and bad smells are a sign that bacteria is growing in the water.