Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Love to give your space a little va-va-voom? It&#8217;s time to ditch the sad supermarket carnations and picture this instead: dreamy, hand-tied bunches that look like they&#8217;ve sprouted straight from the pages of a glossy interiors mag. Gorgeous, <em>yes </em>– but how does one stop their flowers from wilting after a few days? Enter, <a href="https://www.blossomandivyflorist.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blossom &amp; Ivy,</a> the Bucks based floral maestros with more than just some twine and oasis up their sleeves. </p>



<p>We&#8217;ve quizzed the petal pros on their golden rules for making a bouquet that lasts – because if you&#8217;re going to splash the cash on these arrangements, you have to sort out that murky vase water (it&#8217;s a real vibe killer).  </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-2.jpg" alt="Lucy Simmons owner of Blossom &amp; Ivy" class="wp-image-194874" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-2-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-2-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-2-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-a-particular-way-to-water-a-bouquet-of-flowers-does-the-water-need-changing-often-and-what-can-be-added-to-it-to-keep-them-alive-for-longer">Is there a particular way to water a bouquet of flowers – does the water need changing often and what can be added to it to keep them alive for longer?</h3>



<p>There is no particular way – some people use filtered water, and other&#8217;s use rain water (mainly for plants though), whatever floats your boat. Just make sure to use a little bit of flower food, keep the stems clean, and change the water every other day to avoid the flower&#8217;s sap making it go smelly and stale.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-specific-vases-you-need-to-use-for-different-bouquets-nbsp">Are there specific vases you need to use for different bouquets?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Watertight vases are best. If they&#8217;re not, water seeps through the sides and you&#8217;re left with a leaky pot. We recommend using a clear vase, you can see when the water goes all funky or if the stems are getting softer – you can never go wrong with a clear vase. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-particular-flowers-that-are-trending-and-happen-to-last-the-longest-nbsp">Are there particular flowers that are trending and happen to last the longest?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Unfortunately no. Flowers that last the longest are the ones from the supermarkets, so carnations, chrysanthemums, and lilies. If they&#8217;re trending, they&#8217;re more likely to wilt earlier because they&#8217;ll be what&#8217;s popular and grown just for a particular season, or will be used for a wedding day. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy.jpg" alt="Blossom &amp; Ivy bouquet of flowers" class="wp-image-194876" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-keeping-flowers-in-a-cool-spot-help-them-last-longer-what-s-the-perfect-location-to-preserve-a-bouquet-nbsp-nbsp">Will keeping flowers in a cool spot help them last longer? What&#8217;s the perfect location to preserve a bouquet?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>You&#8217;re right that sunlight is a big no. Flowers are as delicate and sensitive as our skin and best kept in a cool, dark environment where possible. Remember that when you&#8217;re cutting a flower, you&#8217;re taking it from its original home so you need to love and nurture it. Don&#8217;t let your beautiful flowers shrivel in front of the sun!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-any-old-wives-tales-exist-that-actually-work-when-it-comes-to-preserving-flowers-nbsp-nbsp">Do any old wives&#8217; tales exist that actually work when it comes to preserving flowers?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Some people believe putting pennies in tulips is supposed to make them stay upright – apparently it works every time. Lots of people swear by putting bleach in the water too as it keeps it clean. Or if you want to seal the stems off, pop them in boiling water. You can also pin prick the stems – this helps to remove air bubbles and makes flowers last longer. These are all trial and error but supposedly work. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-1.jpg" alt="Interior of Blossom &amp; Ivy shop" class="wp-image-194875" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-favourite-pairing-of-flowers-together">What&#8217;s your favourite pairing of flowers together?</h3>



<p>It depends on the season. Right now, anything with dahlias and cosmos. Each season has certain flowers that are blooming the most, so we naturally tend to use those more in the bouquets we&#8217;re creating. For example, May and June is peony season, so we&#8217;d go to town creating interesting combinations with those!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-flowers-that-may-cause-other-flowers-to-wilt-quickly-an-unruly-pairings-nbsp-nbsp">Are there any flowers that may cause other flowers to wilt quickly? An unruly pairings?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>You&#8217;re supposedly not meant to put daffodils in with any other flower, because they produce a sap that could affect the other flowers. A lot of the spring flowers are not commonly put together with other flowers as they usually produce a sap that sits at the bottom of the water, dirtying it a lot quicker. Sunflowers tend to drink water quickly too, so keep on top of that. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-8.jpg" alt="flowers next to a yellow background" class="wp-image-195266" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-8.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-8-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-8-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-8-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-flowers-that-are-particularly-delicate-or-prone-to-wilting-quickly-nbsp-nbsp">Are there any flowers that are particularly delicate or prone to wilting quickly?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Wildflowers, for sure. They&#8217;re trending bouquets as you can nab them from your garden but they do not last long and are very delicate. We tend to use British wildflowers more as opposed to ones imported from elsewhere as they&#8217;re picked straight from the ground rather than being flown over, so they&#8217;ve not already endured a journey that could shorten their lifespan. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-me-about-which-flowers-preserve-better-for-drying-flowers-nbsp">Tell me about which flowers preserve better for drying flowers?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>You can dry any flowers as long as you dry them right away and hang them upside down, otherwise all their heads will flop. Your classics are status, gypsophilia, larkspur, and roses, and if you have a real knack at it, peonies too. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-most-bizarre-request-you-ve-had-for-creating-a-bouquet-nbsp-nbsp">What’s the most bizarre request you’ve had for creating a bouquet?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>An elderly man would come in and always ask us for strange bouquets, for example a bouquet on the end of a stick so it looked like a witches broomstick, or a bouquet of bananas. He was very quirky but we loved him, and eventually discovered he was gifting these bouquets to his wife as he knew they&#8217;d make her laugh every time. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-be-your-ideal-bouquet-to-receive-be-nbsp-nbsp">What would be your ideal bouquet to receive be?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>It depends on the season. Currently, I&#8217;d love to receive a bouquet with pinks, oranges, peaches, lots of lovely dahlias, roses, lisianthus – a real mix of British flowers that have warm sunset tones and give off an autumnal vibe.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-way-to-use-flower-food-when-given-a-sachet-is-it-one-for-all-or-feed-it-in-drips-and-drabs-nbsp-nbsp">What’s the best way to use flower food when given a sachet? Is it one for all or feed it in drips and drabs?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>When you&#8217;re changing the water you should be able to sprinkle a bit in at a time. You don&#8217;t need to pour the whole thing in one go, you want to elongate it out. Every time you change the water, add a bit of the flower food each time. Top tip: we use the powder ones so it’s easier to pour in.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-7.jpg" alt="Bouquet of flowers" class="wp-image-195267" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-7.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-7-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-7-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Blossom-Ivy-7-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-top-tip-for-chopping-stems-when-receiving-a-bouquet-nbsp-nbsp">What is a top tip for chopping stems when receiving a bouquet?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>You want to cut them at an angle to give them as much surface area as possible with really sharp scissors, and every time you change the water cut the stems again, otherwise they will self-seal – you want them to absorb as much fresh water as possible.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-you-able-to-turn-a-bouquet-back-around-after-early-signs-of-wilting-nbsp-nbsp">Are you able to turn a bouquet back around after early signs of wilting?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Unfortunately, no. Unless it&#8217;s a flower that drinks through its petals like hydrangeas, then you can dunk them in water for an hour or mist them and they should perk up a bit. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-there-any-specific-techniques-for-dealing-with-flowers-with-different-stems-in-order-to-help-them-last-longer-nbsp-nbsp">Are there any specific techniques for dealing with flowers with different stems in order to help them last longer?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>



<p>With hydrangeas or flowers with woody or chunky stems, cut them at an angle or cut them up the stem. By splitting the stem in the middle it allows the surface area to drink up more water, giving the flowers as much life as possible.</p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.blossomandivyflorist.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blossom &amp; Ivy</a>, 6 Chequers Parade, Wycombe Road, Prestwood, Great Missenden, HP16 0PN</strong></em>.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/gardening/flower-farms-workshops-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire/">Blooming gorgeous local flower farms and PYOs</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/weddings/i-do-stylish-local-wedding-venues-youll-fall-in-love-with/">Dreamy local wedding venues you’ll fall in love with</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/interiors/best-vintage-homewares-shops-markets-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">Where to buy antique and vintage homewares in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>
</ul>


Bloomin’ heck! 5+ golden rules for creating a bouquet that lasts

You may also like