Since a global pandemic locked us all down, we’ve all been missing loved ones and keen to express that sentiment from afar. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that letterbox gifts have become huge.
These letterbox gifts, which can be so conveniently slid through the letterbox, mean the recipient never misses a delivery; a godsend when you consider the number of daily walks we’ve been taking and headphone-heavy Zoom calls we’ve been making.
For us, letterbox flowers have reigned supreme. Who doesn’t like getting a bunch of flowers? And through the post? Even better! Ok, maybe someone who suffers from hayfever doesn’t, but we don’t think we’re putting our neck on the line when we say that fresh blooms are pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on the recipient’s face.
But how do letterbox flowers possibly survive the journey, we hear you ask? Well, they travel in special, compact yet durable boxes, helping the flowers stay healthy and remain in good condition, regardless of the bumpiness of the ride to their receiver. These flower boxes even have a special container with water; what mad sorcery is this?! That’s right, the container generally contains enough water for up to three days of transit.
If you’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of letterbox flowers lately, then you’re probably wondering how best to look after them. With the help of Bloompost, who deliver mailbox flowers, here’s 6 IDEAL tips on how to care for your letterbox flowers.
GET THEM INTO WATER SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVAL
First things first, it’s important that you put your flowers in water shortly, though not immediately, after they arrive. Bloompost tell us that “Flowers will require to get used to the temperature (just like humans) upon arrival. Leave the flowers without any water for 30 minutes before you actually put them in the vase. This will make the flowers at ease and they won’t be shocked by the temperature differences.”.
Precious, pretty things, aren’t they?
CUT THE STEMS DIAGONALLY
Cutting the flowers’ stems diagonally is super important for maintaining the longevity and beauty of your flowers.
Cut a small piece off the bottom of the stems. This doesn’t have to be much; around 2 cm is sufficient. Cutting the stems diagonally ensures the flowers receive a sufficient water supply. Use sharp, clean scissors to prevent any bacteria from settling on the stems.
Also be sure not to remove any thorns, however unsightly they might appear, as this may create an open ‘wound’ which could get infected, similar to when human skin gets cut.
LET THE BOUQUET ACCLIMATISE
This is only necessary when it is really cold outside. Acclimatising simply means that you gradually let the flowers get used to a warmer temperature. You can do this by first putting the bouquet in a utility room or shed, since the temperature in these types of rooms is often higher than the temperature outside, but lower than the temperature in; a useful middle ground, if you will.
By letting them acclimatise to fluctuations in both temperature and humidity slowly, the impact will be less hard on your precious flowers and they’ll keep beautiful for longer.
CHOOSE A GLASS VASE THAT GIVES SPACE TO THE BOUQUET
If the flowers are kept too close together within their vase, moisture will accumulate more quickly on their petals, leaves and stem. This can cause the stems to mould faster, the leaves to turn brown and the petals to wilt and fall off.
In addition, you should choose a glass vase for your flowers, if possible. Glass vases are easy to keep clean between uses, ensuring bacteria doesn’t have a chance to grow. Porous vases, on the other hand, retain a lot of moisture, which gives bacteria a chance to develop. The bacteria then pollutes the water more quickly and shortens the lifespan of your flowers.
It’s best to avoid iron vases altogether. When iron comes into contact with water, it causes the process of oxidation to occur. This is something that flowers simply don’t tolerate as well.
MAKE SURE THE VASE IS CLEAN
To give your bouquet a good start in its new home, it’s important that its vase is clean. And we mean spotless. Before introducing your bouquet to its new home, clean the vase with a little washing-up liquid, or even better, chlorine and warm water.
Make sure that no leaves or debris from a previous bouquet isn’t lurking at the bottom of your vase; this would pollute the water from the off. Not the ideal introduction to your flowers’ new home, don’t you think?
AVOID FRUIT BOWLS, HEAT SOURCES AND DAMP PLACES
Perhaps you’re wondering where to place your letterbox flowers once you’ve found the appropriate vase? The most important thing here is to choose a spot with plenty of indirect sunlight, as this makes the flowers open up nicely. Talk about bringing the outside in!
Avoid placing your vase close to heat sources, such as next to the fireplace, radiator, tumble dryer or a window which catches a lot of sun. Doing so prevents the flowers from drying out due to the heat.
Also make sure that fruit bowls are far away! The contents of a fruit bowl, particularly apples, pears and bananas, produce ethylene gas, which makes your flowers wilt faster. This is why other items of fruit placed close to a banana turn brown so quickly.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Lucky you! Someone must really love you if they’ve sent flowers in the post. Now, give that gesture the respect it deserves by taking care of your bouquet using the tips above, ensuring longevity and positive vibes for weeks.