Ember Sonata

Caring for your Ember Sonata

Keep Ember Sonata in a cool spot away from direct sun, draughts and ripening fruit, and give it clean, room-temperature water that you change every couple of days. The hydrangea drinks largely through its petals as well as its stem, so a light mist and a deep drink will revive it quickly if it ever looks tired. Recut the gerbera stems on a sharp angle and avoid overcrowding them, as they bruise easily and prefer only a few centimetres of water to stay upright. The anthurium and orchid are the steadier presences, asking little beyond fresh water and a wipe of their stems, while the carnations simply appreciate having any lower foliage removed so nothing sits below the waterline. Trim each variety to its own height as it settles, and the arrangement will keep its balance as the softer blooms gradually give way to the longer-lasting ones.

A note on your specific blooms

• Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
• Carnation — Cut stems cleanly between the swollen leaf joints rather than through them, as carnations draw water best when the node itself is left intact.
• Gerbera — Gerbera has fragile stems — use shallow, clean water and support the heads.
• Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
• Orchid — Keep orchid stems in cool, clean water away from ripening fruit, whose ethylene gas makes the blooms drop early.