Christmas flowers – how long will they last?

When choosing Christmas flowers for your home, one of the most important questions to ask is how long they will most likely last. There are a number of aspects that will influence just how long fresh flowers last. Here’s what you need to know.

Factors you can control

Before you consider the types of Christmas flowers for your bouquet, you need to understand that all Christmas flowers require some degree of care. This means that you need to trim the stems as soon as the arrangement arrives and place them in fresh water. Flower preserve will help keep them fresher for longer too. Change the water every couple of days and trim the stems as soon as you notice slimy bacterial growth on the bottom. Do not place your flowers near sources of heat, cold draughts or fresh fruit. Remove any plant material that has started to perish before it affects the rest of the bouquet.

Flowers for up to a week

Tulips, daisies, irises and poppies are some of the shortest-lasting of all cut flowers. They will usually look their best for up to a week. After this, your bouquet will fade and it will eventually need to be downsized into bud arrangements, if possible, before discarding.

More than a week

If you want Christmas flowers that will last for more than a week, look for bouquets that include freesia, gladioli, lilies, roses, dahlias, peonies, sunflowers and hydrangeas. Many of these flowers are especially thirsty so make sure that they never go without water.

Up to two weeks

Alstroemeria, gerberas and bird of paradise blooms will last for up to two weeks. This makes them excellent Christmas flowers since you can be sure that they will look great during your New Years Eve celebrations too!

Over two weeks

For the longest lasting Christmas flowers, shop for carnations, hypericum and chrysanthemums! These fabulous and affordable blooms will outlast any other flower for the festive season.

Remember, no matter what type of Christmas flowers you choose, quality is essential. Make sure that your florist sends blooms that are only partially open or in bud form. This will ensure that you get to enjoy them for that much longer!