If you’ve received cut flowers, whether it’s a presentation bouquet or a hand-tie, you’ll need to re-cut the stems before you put them in the vase to make sure they take up the water.

Always cut the stems at a sharp angle using a knife if possible or very sharp scissors.

Place the flowers immediately in clean water, mixed with the flower food, or they’ll dry out and you’ve defeated the object of cutting. Make sure there are no leaves sitting below the water line, as not only will they rot and release harmful bacteria (which kills the flowers) but they’ll consume vast amounts of the nutrients in the flower food which need to get up the stem to the flower head.

To keep the flowers looking good, repeat the process three or four days later, removing any wilting or dead flower heads so that the water supply is sent to the flowers still blooming or, in the case of multi-headed varieties, still to open.

Presentation Bouquets
Made with a collection of loose flowers, this will give you the chance to arrange the flowers in two or three vases depending on the size of the bouquet. Cut and condition the flowers as above and make sure you use clean vases; residue from previous bouquets will cause infection and reduce the life of your new flowers.

Hand-Ties
As these are arranged for you and tied together, the first rule is not to cut the binding string. It doesn’t harm the flowers and it means the bouquet will stay looking gorgeous. If it’s been delivered aquapacked (with a bubble of water around the stems) hold the bouquet over the sink and cut the bottom of the film. This way the water will pour down the sink and not over you.

Arrangements
If you receive an arrangement, it will have been made in a water retaining foam. It will need to be topped up every couple of days. Simply dribble water into the centre of the design or at the back.

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Some flowers are hardier than others and some have idiosyncrasies that are part of their genetic make up.

Here’s a quick run-down of some of the main varieties and their needs:

Roses
Should last about a week, but are prone to drooping. If they flag, wrap them in wet newspaper and stand in cool water overnight.

Tulips
Tulips actually keep growing in the vase, which is why they elongate and curve. It’s their style rather than a sign of poor quality. They too should last about a week. If they grow too unwieldy, simply cut the stems to suit the vase.

Carnations
Whether it’s a standard carnation or a spray carnation, these flowers will go for at least two weeks and they need very little care. However, like most flowers, carnations are sensitive to ethylene emitted by fruits, so keep them away from the fruit bowl.

Chrysanthemum
Another long lasting flower...two or three weeks easy. Remove any drooping or damaged buds to make sure the rest of the head keeps its freshness.

Gerbera
Like the tulip, they are curvy flowers and should be allowed to go with the flow. Their vase life should be around 7 to 10 days.

Freesia
A really delicate flower that will probably only last a week; but has an amazing smell which improves as the air gets warmer. What you lose in lifespan, you more than make up for in sheer gorgeousness.

Lilies
One of the most spectacular flowers around and available in a choice of shapes. Asiatics are the most common, while Orientals have a stylish angular look. Longiflorum are extremely elegant and Calla are one of the most hi-style on the market. Orientals and Asiatics will last the longest.

Lisianthus
Lisianthus or Eustoma will last around 7 to 10 days. Like many multi-headed flower you need to remove old heads to give new buds a chance to flower.

Daffodils
A vase of these will add instant light to any room. However they ooze a latex slime, so you shouldn’t mix them with other flowers unless you’ve got one of the special flower foods (or stand them in water for 12 hours or so and don’t cut them again).

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