Caring for your Sparkle Holidays 12

Keep this bouquet in a clean vase of cool water and place it away from direct sun and any heat source, since the Amaryllis in particular wilts quickly in warmth. The Amaryllis carries heavy blooms on a hollow, water-filled stem that can soften and bend, so a deeper vessel and steady support help it stand. Give the Anthurium's waxy spathes an occasional light mist, as they take in moisture from the air as much as from the stem, and recut the woody Pine on an angle so it can keep drawing water. Pull any spent Chrysanthemum petals as they age to keep the arrangement looking composed and to protect the blooms still in their prime.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Amaryllis — Its hollow stems bend and split easily, so cut at an angle, keep water shallow, and support tall stems if the heavy heads start to lean.
  • Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
  • Chrysanthemum — Chrysanthemum is sensitive to murky water — strip the lower leaves and refresh it often.
  • Pine — Recut the woody stems on an angle and keep the foliage misted, as pine holds best in cool, draught-free air away from heat sources.

How long your flowers last

Expect this arrangement to hold for roughly 1–2 weeks overall, with its lifespan set by the shortest-lived stems in the mix. The Amaryllis tends to fade first, opening generously over its first week before its large blooms tire, and the Chrysanthemums follow on a similar 7–14 day arc. The Anthurium and the Pine are the anchors here, both comfortably lasting 2–3 weeks and keeping the composition structured well after the softer flowers have gone. The single most useful habit is to refresh the water every two days and trim a centimetre from each stem when you do, which is how the Amicis team keeps a mix like this looking its best for as long as possible.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

Amaryllis

Origin

South America (Andes & Brazil)

Reached Europe

Early 18th century

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Pride, determination & radiant beauty

Native to South America, the amaryllis sends up tall hollow stems crowned with trumpet blooms the size of an open hand. That single dramatic gesture is its gift to an arrangement – one stem reads as a statement, holding height and architecture where softer flowers gather. Amicis favours it through the cooler months, when its scale feels most deliberate.

Anthurium

Origin

Rainforests of Colombia & Ecuador

Documented

By botanists in the 1870s

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Hospitality, confidence & beauty

The anthurium's glossy, sculptural 'bloom' is in fact a modified leaf, with a poised tropical architecture few flowers can match. It lends Amicis designs a clean, modern edge — and one of the longest vase lives in the bouquet.

Chrysanthemum

Origin

East Asia — China & Japan

Cultivated since

Over 3,000 years in China

Fragrance

Soft, earthy and herbal

Symbolises

Longevity, joy & well-wishing

One of the oldest cultivated flowers, prized in China and Japan for three thousand years and honoured with its own festival. Its dense, textured heads bring depth and a long, dependable life to an arrangement.

Pine

Origin

Northern Hemisphere forests

Recorded

In use for centuries

Fragrance

Fresh, resinous and green

Symbolises

Longevity, endurance & resilience

An evergreen conifer that has framed gatherings for centuries, pine carries a cool, resinous scent and holds its needles the year round. As cut foliage it brings deep evergreen colour and architectural lines, anchoring an Amicis arrangement with texture and a quiet sense of permanence.