Choose a vase that's half the height of the flowers. If the bouquet is bottom-heavy, use a narrower vase, if the top is overpowering, use a wider one. Make sure that your vase is clean before use. Leave the vase to dry naturally, as using a towel can reintroduce bacteria which may cause your flowers to deteriorate quicker.

Fill the vase two-thirds with water - use lukewarm water as flowers can drink this more quickly. Avoid using hot or cold water as this can shock delicate flowers. If needed, leave the filled vase to sit to allow the water to reach room temperature and let any air bubbles escape. Add the flower food - this contains sugar to feed the flowers and bleach which slows the growth of algae and bacteria. Algae clogs up the stems and makes it harder for the flowers to drink.

Flower stems dry out after they have been picked. We send flowers in bud when they are full of stored water, but they will be thirsty on arrival. Cut about 2-3cm from the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle. This stops the stems from resting on the bottom of the vase and increases the surface area of them - allowing for better water uptake. Remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline, as this will decompose quickly and increase the build up of debris in the vase. Top tip: cut the stems with sharp scissors, and cut thick-stemmed flowers such as amaryllis with a sharp knife. Blunt scissors or dull instruments can crush the stems and prevent the flowers from properly absorbing water.

Cut flowers last longer in cool conditions. To prevent flowers from drying out and wilting, keep them away from drafts and heat sources. Avoid placing them where they will be exposed to direct sunlight or on top of radiators. If you place them near a window, the flowers can also quickly get damaged. Top tip: keep your flowers away from the fruit bowl, especially if it contains apples. Apples and other fruit give off ethylene gas which causes flowers to deteriorate.

While a gift bag or box full of flowers delivers a great first impression, they should be transferred to a vase as soon as possible to prolong their life.

Top up the water every other day and change it immediately if you notice the water has turned cloudy. Even with flower food, bacteria eventually builds up in the vase and can clog up the stems, preventing flowers from drinking. Remove any dead or wilting stems from the arrangement, clean the vase with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly before refilling.

On arrival, you may notice some outer petals look discoloured or like they are wilting. These are guard petals and they are there to protect the rose. Gently peel these away to allow your roses to bloom. A roses stem should be cut underwater. This prevents air bubbles from forming in the stem which can cause the roses to droop early. Top tip: if after a few days your roses start to droop, submerge the roses underwater and cut the stems again. Gently shake the stem to allow any air bubbles to escape.

Unlike most cut flowers, tulips continue to grow throughout their vase life, and their stems can increase in length by several inches. To prevent tulips from bending, choose a vase that supports at least half of the stem length.Trim the stems regularly and rotate your vase every few days. If a tulip starts to droop, try pricking the stem just below the flower head with a pin to let out any air. Re-cut the bottom of the stem and place in a glass of water for an hour.

Lilies are toxic to cats and can be harmful to other pets. If there are lilies included in the arrangement take care as the pollen may stain. Consider all flowers to be harmful if eaten. Some are extremely poisonous. Please keep your flowers out of reach of children and pets.

The most common way to kill your orchid is by overwatering it! It is best to water your orchid then let it dry out between waterings. The general rule is to water every one to two weeks depending on the temperature and time of year.

During the summer months when our days are warmer and longer these plants can be watered more towards the weekly to 10 days and when we are in the cooler shorter days of winter you can water less often sometimes leaving 2-3 weeks between watering.

The best method of watering is to remove the plant from the ceramic or glass containing (making sure its still within its plastic container and water over a sink allowing the excess water to pass through the soil and roots. Be sure not to use cold water as this could shock the plant – room temperature is best.

Phalaenopsis plants like a window position where they will receive light (not direct). The leaf colour is a good indicator if your plant is getting the right amount of light.

If your Phalaenopsis develops black blotches it is a sign of too much direct light (sunburn)!

Surprisingly Orchids are not difficult to look after providing you follow the watering instructions detailed above.

If your plant has thick healthy leaves (not wrinkled or drooping) try to cut the flower stem (before the last flower has died) at the highest node below the flower.

The plant will often sprout a new flowering branch at this location. This can take upto a year or so as this is a relatively slow growing plant.

A newly potted plant should be Ok for about two years. Best to repot when the plant isn’t in bloom. Be sure to use special orchid soil as normal soil/compost is not suitable and could kill your plant.

Poinsettias are a great Christmas tradition but our enjoyment of these doesn’t have to end when the Christmas tree comes down! With just a little effort this poinsettias can be enjoyed all year round and can re bloom for more than just one Christmas.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. Joel Robert Poinsett, first US ambassador to Mexico introduced it to the United States in 1825. The common name for this exotic plant, Poinsettia came from his last name and the botanical name is Euphorbia Pulcherrima.

Watering

You can examine the soil daily and when soil surface feel dry to the touch water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. If a saucer is used its best to discard any excess water as the plant should not be left sitting in water.

If the soil is overly wet this will cause insufficient air and may result in root injury! Plants exposed to a lot of light and low humidity require watering more frequently.

Lighting

Poinsettias will enjoy a sunny window preferably south facing. Do not let the plant touch the cold windowpane itself as it may cause injury. As they are native to Mexico, in this country they may be prone to yellowing and leaf fall.

It is best not to let the room temperature fall below 13 degrees centigrade (55F). As with most plants avoid exposure to hot or cold drafts which may cause leave to drop prematurely.

Reflowering

Poinsettias are short day plants meaning they flower about 10 weeks after the daylight hours shorten. The plants will naturally come into bloom around November or December.

Timing the bloom to coincide with Christmas can be tricky without a controlled environment or greenhouse. Stray light from an outside street light or lamp can delay the reflowering process.

To encourage it to bloom again for a second Christmas in September cover the plant with a black polythene bag from early evening in until the next morning so the plant is in total darkness for 14 hours.

This may be achieved in a box or cupboard or closet making sure it has complete darkness. Be sure to place it in a bright sunny spot during the day. Continue this daily for 8 weeks and then it can be cared for as normal with hopefully flowers in time for Christmas.

Your arrangement should be kept in a cool spot as well as away from direct sunlight, heat, fruit etc.

Keep the foam soaked with water containing flower food provided by Josephines. It is important to follow the correct mixing instructions as advised on the flower food packet.