Flower Care Tips During Heat Waves
Stoves and ovens
Hot appliances
Electronics that generate heat
Sunny windowsills
Outdoor patios during the hottest part of the day
Flower Care Tips During Heat Waves: Keep Your Blooms Fresh in Mission Viejo
Summer in Mission Viejo brings plenty of sunshine—and sometimes intense heat. While we may enjoy those bright Southern California days, fresh flowers can struggle when temperatures climb.
At Conroy’s Flowers Mission Viejo, we want your flowers to look beautiful for as long as possible. Whether you’ve received a birthday bouquet, anniversary arrangement, or flowers just because, a few simple steps can make a noticeable difference during a heat wave.
1. Keep Flowers Out of Direct Sunlight
Fresh-cut flowers may look beautiful near a sunny window, but direct sunlight can cause them to dehydrate and wilt much faster.
During hot weather, place your arrangement in a cool, shaded area with indirect light. Avoid windows that receive strong afternoon sun, especially when temperatures are at their highest.
2. Keep Arrangements Away from Heat Sources
Sunlight isn't the only source of heat inside your home. Keep flowers away from:
A comfortable, temperature-controlled room is generally the best environment for fresh flowers.
3. Check the Water Every Day
Flowers can drink surprisingly quickly during warm weather. Check the water level in your vase or arrangement at least once a day during a heat wave.
If your flowers are arranged in floral foam, make sure the foam remains moist. Add water slowly so it can absorb it without overflowing the container.
4. Start With a Clean Vase
If you've received wrapped flowers or are transferring flowers into your own vase, cleanliness matters. Bacteria in vase water can shorten the life of cut flowers.
Wash the vase thoroughly before filling it with fresh water. Change the water regularly, particularly if it becomes cloudy.
5. Give the Stems a Fresh Cut
Before placing loose flowers into a vase, trim approximately ½ to 1 inch from the bottom of each stem using clean, sharp floral shears or scissors.
Cutting the stems at an angle can help expose more surface area for water uptake. If you change the vase water after several days, giving the stems another small trim can also help.
6. Remove Leaves Below the Waterline
Leaves submerged in vase water can deteriorate and encourage bacterial growth. Remove any foliage that would sit below the waterline while leaving the healthy foliage above it intact.
This simple step helps keep the water cleaner and your flowers fresher.
7. Keep Flowers Away from Ripening Fruit
It may be tempting to display a beautiful bouquet next to a bowl of fresh fruit, but that's not always the best combination.
Ripening fruits such as bananas and apples release ethylene gas, which can accelerate the aging of many types of flowers. During hot weather, when flowers are already under additional stress, give your arrangement some distance from the fruit bowl.
8. Don't Leave Flowers in a Hot Car
This is especially important during a Mission Viejo summer. The temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly, even when the outside temperature doesn't seem extreme.
If you're picking up flowers, make them one of your last stops and take them indoors as soon as possible. For longer trips, keep the vehicle air-conditioned and avoid placing the flowers in direct sunlight.
What If Your Flowers Begin to Wilt?
A little wilting doesn't always mean your flowers are finished.
Check the water level first. For flowers in a vase, remove any deteriorating foliage, refresh the water, and give the stems a fresh cut before returning them to the vase.
Individual flower varieties have different vase lives, so it's also normal for some blooms in a mixed arrangement to finish before others. Removing older flowers can help the remaining arrangement continue to look fresh.
Fresh Flowers for Mission Viejo's Sunny Days
Hot weather doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying fresh flowers. Keeping arrangements cool, hydrated, clean, and protected from direct sunlight can help you get more enjoyment from every bouquet.
Whether you're sending flowers for a birthday, anniversary, thank-you, get-well wish, sympathy gesture, or simply to brighten someone's day, Conroy’s Flowers Mission Viejo can help you choose fresh flowers for the occasion.
Looking for flower delivery in Mission Viejo? Shop with Conroy’s Flowers Mission Viejo for fresh floral arrangements designed and delivered locally.
