Flower Care

If you have received a custom SWISH creation and are unsure of how to care for it, please take a look at the most essential flower care tips below in order to ensure the longevity of your product. We have also attached care instructions for some flowers which may require more attention. Rest assured that following these tips will help to lengthen the life of your arrangement:

Arrangement Care Instructions

  • If you receive flowers in floral foam they must be watered daily to avoid dehydration of the flowers
  • Water at the side of your arrangement to avoid spillage
  • Avoid pouring water onto the leaves or heads of flowers — this causes leaves to turn brown
  • Keep flowers in a cool spot and away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators. (Appliances like televisions give off heat, which causes flowers to dehydrate.)

Bouquet Care Instructions

  • Put flowers into a vase containing room temperature water and flower food. Ensure there is no plant debris in the vase
  • Trim the stems of each flower and place them back into clean, changed water every 2 to 3 days
  • If the water in the vase becomes cloudy simply replace the water and trim the stems of each flower
  • Keep flowers in a cool spot and away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators. (Appliances like televisions give off heat, which causes flowers to dehydrate.)

Potted Plants

Although some plants have much more specific instructions, these can serve as a good guideline for all potted plants:

  • Keep your plant in medium light (natural light works best), out of direct sunlight
  • Make sure the soil of your plant is moist, neither too wet or too dry, and avoid wetting the plant leaves
  • Avoid placing your plant is excessively hot or cold locations, avoid placing it under ceiling fans, on appliances or near heating or cooling vents

Orchid Encased in a Vase

A Cymbidium Orchid in a vase is one of our longest-lasting arrangements which should last approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

  • Ensure the stem of your orchid is always sitting in 2-3 inches of water
  • Approximately once a week, gently remove the cymbidium and trim approximately an inch on an upwards angle. Change the water in the vase and re-position the cymbidium in the vase. To remove the cymbidium stem pour water on the inside walls of the vase, this will allow the cymbidium to slide out without causing damage to the buds.
  • To east the stem back into the vase, wet the entire orchid stem under a stream of water—doing this will make it much easier to slide the orchid stem back into place without damaging the blooms.

Hydrangea Care

Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful and popular flowers we use, but they can require more care than other, more hardy, flowers.

  • Hydrangea prefers warm water and must be trimmed every day
  • Cut the stem upwards on an angle, removing approximately one inch and replace immediately into fresh luke-warm water
  • If you notice that your hydrangea is taking on a wilted or droopy appearance, do not panic. Simply take the hydrangea out of the arrangement, trim its stem, and place the trimmed flower into a separate vase of very warm water. The surge of warm water will often revive your hydrangea very quickly—you should see the head of the flower straighten and the petals should re-gain their original shape and structure. If you act as soon as possible, these steps can save your hydrangea, but if your flower becomes limp and weak, it will be too late to revive it. /li>

Phalaenopsis Orchid Care Instructions

Although sometimes a high maintenance plant, the Phalaenopsis Orchid can be much easier to care for if the following factors are considered and if the recommended steps are followed:

    Light: Orchid plants prefer medium to bright light, but avoid direct sunlight. If you are growing the plant under a fluorescent light it should be at least 30 cm (12 inches) from the bulb to ensure there is no damage to the leaves.

    Temperature: The optimal temperature for any houseplant falls within a range of 17-25°C, (62-77F) but good air circulation is also needed. A small fan can help to create air circulation, but ensure it does not blow directly on your orchid plant. You will also need to ensure your plant is away from heaters, cold drafts, and that it is not directly under a ceiling fan or on top of electrical equipment such as a television or radiator.

    Humidity: The easiest ways to produce the level of humidity your orchid requires is to either place a tray filled with pebbles and water near your orchid plant or, mist the plant with water in the morning. Do not mist the plant at night because an excess collection of water on the plant overnight can create possible problems with disease.

    Watering: Before you water your plant, make sure the top 1-2 inches are dry to the touch-if it is still wet do not add more water. As a general rule of thumb, your orchid plant should be watered every 7-10 days in the summer and 10-14 days in the winter if its grown in moss. If it is being grown in an orchid mix you will need to water more frequently. Do not allow your orchid plant to stand in water as it may cause rot. Also ensure the water is luke warm and not cold to the touch.

    Fertilizing: It is not recommended to feed your orchid while its in bloom, unless you are a seasoned grower. Plain water will be best to start with, but if you do start fertilizing, it is recommended to use a 20-20-20- fertilizer or anything with a balanced formula at half of the recommended strength every second time you water after your orchid has finished blooming.

    Repotting: If your plant is showing a lot of roots, whether inside or outside the pot, you know its time to repot your orchid. However, only repot if the orchid is NOT in bloom because you risk losing the blooms. When choosing a pot, try to remember that most orchids like to be root-bound. Clean the roots and cut the dead (shriveled) ones off, but try to avoid hurting any of the healthy root tips.

    Where to Cut: When your orchid has finished blooming, cut one inch just below the first bloom. Sometimes a branch will emerge with more blooms from one of the nodes on the stem. If nothing happens in 6-8 weeks, cut the stem all the way back. A new spike will form after its resting period. To re-bloom, place your orchid near a south facing window or somewhere in the house where its warm during the day and cool at night. A 5 -8°C (10-15F) difference between night and day is required for blooming. The orchid plant blooms between 17-25°C (62-77F).