Caring for your
fresh bouquet
Sofiori · Flower Delivery Calgary
Every bouquet, every time
Cut stems at a 45° angle
Trim 1–2 cm off each stem the moment you get home. A diagonal cut maximises surface area and lets the stem drink freely. Do it under running water for best results.
Cool, clean water — changed every 2 days
Replace the water every 2 days and rinse the vase each time. Clean water is the single most effective thing you can do — bacteria in old water is the number one killer of cut flowers.
Strip leaves below the waterline
Any foliage submerged in water rots and poisons the whole vase. Remove leaves from the lower stems before placing your bouquet, and check daily.
Keep cool & out of direct sun
Flowers thrive at 16–20°C in bright indirect light. Move them to a cooler room overnight — even one night of cool air can add days of life.
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Sofiori tip
Re-trim stems every 2–3 days — they seal over and block water. 30 seconds of effort adds days to your arrangement.
Care tips for your flowers
Select your dominant bloom below
Roses
Tulips
Hydrangea
Lisianthus
Ranunculus
Lilies
Carnations
Peonies
Alstroemeria
Chrysanthemums
Roses
Expected life: 5–7 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of water — check daily and top up as needed
Change water daily
Roses are heavy drinkers. Check and top up the water every day and do a full water change every 2 days. They will noticeably wilt if the vase runs low.
Remove thorns below the waterline
Thorns submerged in water decompose and contaminate it quickly. Gently remove any thorns on the lower portion of each stem before placing in your vase.
Mist lightly — but not the petals
Mist the leaves and stems, not the petals. Moisture on rose petals can cause petal spot and browning. A light mist on the foliage once a day is enough.
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Revive a drooping rose
If a rose droops, re-cut the stem and submerge the entire stem (not the head) in cool water for 30–60 minutes. Most roses recover beautifully.
Tulips
Expected life: 5–10 days
Quarter full
💧 How much water
~7 cm of cool water — tulips prefer shallow water
They love the cold
Tulips prefer very cool water — you can even add a few ice cubes on warm days. Keep them in the coolest room you have. Cold slows their opening and extends their life significantly.
They will keep growing
Tulips continue to grow after cutting — sometimes several centimetres. They'll also bend toward light. Rotate the vase daily to keep them upright and even.
Keep away from daffodils
Daffodils release a sap that is toxic to tulips. If your arrangement includes both, condition them in separate vases for 24 hours before mixing.
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Keep them straight
For the first few hours, keep tulips wrapped in their paper to help them stand upright while they hydrate and firm up.
Hydrangea
Expected life: 5–8 days
Two thirds full
💧 How much water
~20 cm — check twice a day, they drink a lot
They drink enormous amounts
Hydrangeas are the thirstiest of all cut flowers. Check the water level twice a day and never let the vase run dry. Use a wide, deep vase if possible.
Score or crush the stem end
Hydrangea stems have a woody base that blocks water. After cutting at an angle, lightly crush or split the bottom 2 cm of the stem with scissors to help water absorption.
Mist the flower heads generously
Unlike roses, hydrangeas absorb water through their petals too. Mist the entire head generously once or twice a day — this is one of the best things you can do for them.
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Revive a wilting head
If a hydrangea head droops, fully submerge the entire flower head in a bowl of cool water for 20–30 minutes. It will almost always revive completely.
Lisianthus
Expected life: 5–10 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of fresh water — delicate stems, don't overfill
An elegant, graceful bloom
Lisianthus is a delicate, beautiful flower that rewards attentive care. With clean water every 2 days and a cool spot, it will stay lovely throughout its life in your vase.
Handle stems gently
Lisianthus stems are delicate. Remove lower leaves carefully without bending the stem. Cut with a very sharp blade — a crushing cut blocks their fine vascular system.
Watch them bloom gradually
Lisianthus blooms open slowly, one by one over several days. This is entirely normal — new buds will keep opening, keeping your arrangement looking fresh and full.
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Don't crowd them
Give lisianthus space in the vase. Crowded stems trap humidity and cause the delicate petals to deteriorate faster.
Ranunculus
Expected life: 7–10 days
One third full
💧 How much water
~10 cm of cold water — hollow stems, keep it shallow
They love cold water
Ranunculus prefer cold water and a cool environment. In Calgary's warm homes, check the water frequently — they're thirsty and the water warms quickly in heated rooms.
They open and close — that's normal
Ranunculus naturally close at night and open in warmth and light. This is healthy behaviour, not a sign of wilting. They can look spectacular as they gradually unfurl.
Gentle stems — handle with care
Ranunculus stems are hollow and delicate. Use a very sharp blade when re-cutting and handle the bouquet gently to avoid crushing the stems.
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Maximize their beauty
Place ranunculus in a bright spot in the morning to encourage them to open fully, then move to a cooler location in the afternoon to slow ageing.
Lilies
Expected life: 8–12 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of water — change every 2 days
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Important: Lily pollen is highly toxic to cats. If you have cats at home, remove the stamens (pollen stems) immediately before placing in your vase. The pollen also stains fabric permanently.
Remove stamens before they open
As buds begin to open, gently snip or pinch off the pollen-bearing stamens. This prevents staining and also helps the bloom last longer by stopping pollination.
Blooms open gradually
Lilies open one bloom at a time over several days. Your arrangement will look fuller and more dramatic in 2–3 days than it does right now — enjoy the progression.
Very sensitive to ethylene
Lilies are especially sensitive to ethylene gas from fruit. Keep them well away from your fruit bowl and remove any fading blooms from the arrangement promptly.
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Fragrance note
Oriental lilies have a very strong, beautiful fragrance. If you're sensitive to scents, place them in a well-ventilated room or a larger space rather than a bedroom.
Carnations
Expected life: 10–14 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of fresh water — rinse the vase each change
Among the longest-lasting cut flowers
Carnations can last 10–14 days with simple care. Change the water every 2 days, re-trim the stems, and they will reward you with beautiful colour for nearly two weeks.
Keep away from fruit and ethylene
Carnations are very sensitive to ethylene gas released by ripening fruit. Keep them away from your fruit bowl and bananas especially — it visibly shortens their life.
Cool temperatures extend their beauty
Carnations thrive in cool rooms. Move them away from sunny windows, heating vents, and appliances. Even a few degrees cooler can add several days of life.
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Guard petals
If the outermost petals look bruised or torn, gently peel them away — the inner petals are always fresh and perfect underneath.
Peonies
Expected life: 5–7 days
Just over half
💧 How much water
~17 cm of water — they drink well as blooms open
Let them open at room temperature
Peonies often arrive as tight buds — this is ideal. Place them in room-temperature water in a warm spot and they will unfurl into spectacular blooms over 1–2 days.
Water every 2 days, vase clean
Peonies drink a lot as they open. Check the water level daily and do a full change every 2 days. Rinse the vase thoroughly each time to remove bacteria.
Once open, move to a cooler spot
After your peonies have fully bloomed, move them to a cooler location to slow ageing and keep the petals looking fresh. Avoid direct sun and heat sources.
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Encourage opening
If buds are very tight, gently cup the bud in warm hands for a few seconds to encourage it to start opening. Then place in a warm spot with indirect light.
Alstroemeria
Expected life: 10–14 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of fresh water — change every 2 days
Excellent vase life — very rewarding
Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) is one of the best value-for-life flowers you can get. With water changes every 2 days and regular stem trims, they easily last 10–14 days.
Remove lower leaves carefully
Strip any leaves below the waterline before placing in the vase. Alstroemeria foliage rots quickly in water. Check and remove any yellowing leaves every time you change the water.
Blooms open gradually
Like lisianthus, alstroemeria buds open one by one over several days. New blooms keep appearing, keeping your arrangement looking fresh and full throughout its long life.
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Keep it going longer
Pinch off spent blooms as they fade — this encourages remaining buds to open and extends the overall life of your stems significantly.
Chrysanthemums
Expected life: up to 14 days
Half full
💧 How much water
~15 cm of water — very forgiving, just don't run dry
Remarkably hardy and long-lasting
Chrysanthemums are among the most durable cut flowers. With water changes every 2 days and stem trims, they can last up to 14 days — one of the best performers in any arrangement.
Remove lower foliage diligently
Chrysanthemum leaves below the waterline decompose quickly and cloud the water. Strip all leaves from the lower half of each stem and check daily for any that have slipped below.
Keep cool and out of direct sun
Mums do best in bright indirect light at 16–20°C. A cool room at night is especially beneficial — even moving them to a cooler space overnight can noticeably extend their life.
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Overnight cool trick
Move chrysanthemums to a cool room or hallway overnight. The drop in temperature slows ageing dramatically — a simple habit that adds days to their life.
Quick reference
Roses
5–7
days
classic & elegant
Tulips
5–10
days
love cool water
Hydrangea
5–8
days
mist frequently
Lisianthus
5–10
days
opens gradually
Ranunculus
7–10
days
opens beautifully
Lilies
8–12
days
blooms over days
Carnations
10–14
days
exceptionally hardy
Peonies
5–7
days
spectacular when open
Alstroemeria
10–14
days
great value bloom
Chrysanthemums
up to 14
days
the ultimate keeper
Ready for your next bouquet?
We hand-craft fresh arrangements daily in Calgary. Same-day delivery available across the city — order by 1 pm for afternoon delivery.
"Thank you for choosing Sofiori — enjoy every single petal."
Sofiori.ca · Premium Flower Delivery · Calgary