Conditioning is the process of preparing cut flowers to absorb water efficiently before they go into an arrangement. Skipping it is the most common reason home bouquets wilt within two or three days.
What actually happens when you skip conditioning
Cut stems seal over within minutes of being out of water. Air enters the vascular tissue. Even if you place the flowers in water afterward, absorption is reduced. The flower uses stored energy faster and collapses earlier.
The conditioning process, step by step
- Fill a clean bucket with cool water — not cold, not warm.
- Remove all foliage that would sit below the waterline. Submerged leaves rot and contaminate the water.
- Cut 2–3cm from each stem at a 45-degree angle while holding the stem under water or immediately after.
- Place stems in the bucket and move to a cool, dark space for a minimum of four hours.
- Change the water before arranging.
Additives that make a difference
A small amount of bleach — roughly one drop per litre — inhibits bacterial growth without harming flowers. Commercial flower food packets work similarly. Plain sugar without bleach feeds bacteria as much as it feeds the flower.
Properly conditioned flowers from a wholesale market will consistently outlast unconditioned retail flowers by three to five days.