Phoenix

Caring for your Phoenix

Keep this bouquet cool and out of direct sun, away from the draught of an air conditioner, which the delphinium and snapdragon resent most. The hydrangea drinks largely through its petals as well as its stem, so a light misting of its heads revives it whenever it starts to flag. Give the whole arrangement deep, clean water and top it up often, since the fern and the orchid both fade fast if the level drops below their stems. Trim the woodier allium and agapanthus stems at an angle so they draw water freely, and lift the anthurium gently when refreshing the water, as its waxy spathe bruises under a firm grip.

A note on your specific blooms

• Agapanthus — Trim the thick, fleshy stems on a slant and refresh the water often, as Agapanthus drinks heavily and clouds its vase quickly.
• Allium — Change the water often and keep it fresh, as Allium stems can release a faint onion odour into the vase.
• Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
• Delphinium — Keep the tall stems in deep, fresh water and out of draughts, as Delphinium drinks heavily and wilts quickly if the vase runs low.
• Fern — Keep fronds out of direct sun and mist them occasionally, as ferns lose moisture through their leaves faster than most cut greenery.
• 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.
• Snapdragon — Trim the stems on a sharp angle and refresh the water often, as snapdragons drink heavily. The florets open from the bottom of the spike upward, so pinch away the lower blooms as they fade to keep the spire looking fresh.