Exquisite bouquet with red roses, white peony and yellow flowers

1) Find a vase: You may have noticed that your flowers no longer have roots and are not in the ground. I bet they are thirsty! It's time to put them in your favorite vase with fresh water.

2) Trim those stems: Keep those stems trimmed! Always cut flowers at an angle so they can absorb more water and don't suffocate at the bottom of the vase. After the first cut, check the bottom of the stem every couple of days and if the ends look a little slimy, only cut back about an inch.

3) Leaf removal: Remove any excess leaves to allow all the water to reach the petals. Pay special attention to leaves below the water level as these will decompose, causing rot and bacteria to grow, which will shorten the life expectancy of your flowers.

4) Remove wilted flowers: Any flowers that have fallen off the stem give off ethylene gas, which ages the flowers around them. Remove any flowers that are starting to wilt to keep the rest of your bouquet fresh and happy.

5) Keep them cool: Last but not least, keep your flowers in a cool place. Don't place them near radiators, computers, TVs, fireplaces, stoves... you get the idea.