Citrus Crush

Caring for your Citrus Crush

Keep this mix in a clean vase of fresh, cool water and stand it away from direct sun, draughts, and any bowl of ripening fruit. The roses are thirsty and will drink quickly, so top up the water daily and recut their stems on a slant to keep the heads firm. Hydrangea takes in moisture through its petals as much as its stem, so a light mist now and then revives it if it starts to wilt early. The woody base of the bird of paradise benefits from a deeper drink, while the anthurium and orchid prefer to be handled gently by the stem rather than the bloom. As the hydrangea and roses begin to fade, lift them out so the lasting tropicals can hold the arrangement on their own.

A note on your specific blooms

• Amaranthus — Recut the stems at an angle and keep the water shallow, as amaranthus drinks heavily and the lower stem softens quickly when submerged too deep.
• Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
• Bird of Paradise — Recut the woody stem at an angle and refresh the water often, as this thirsty flower drinks heavily and lasts longest in a deep vase.
• 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.
• Chrysanthemum — Chrysanthemum is sensitive to murky water — strip the lower leaves and refresh it often.
• 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.
• Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.