Fresh Flowers: How Florists Check Freshness and Keep Bouquets Alive
Fresh flowers are cut flowers that are still at the start of their vase life: firm stems, crisp leaves, petals without browning and buds that are only beginning to open. A truly fresh bouquet should look good for about a week, and many flowers last longer with proper care. How fresh flowers are when they reach you depends on how they were stored and handled before delivery, and on what you do with them in the first hours.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, which we have run since 2011, the most common customer questions are simple: how do I know the flowers are fresh, which ones will last longest, and what should I do when the bouquet arrives. This article answers them in the same order, with the checks our florists use every morning.
How to tell if flowers are fresh
Start with the stems and leaves, not the petals. Fresh stems are firm and break cleanly; slimy, dark or soft stem ends mean the flowers have stood too long in old water. Leaves should be green and springy, without yellow edges or black spots. If the leaves are drooping while the petals still look fine, the flower is already losing water.
For roses, gently squeeze the base of the head where the petals meet the stem. A fresh rose feels firm and tight there; a soft, spongy base means it will open and drop quickly. A few outer petals with small marks are normal: these are guard petals that protect the bud, and florists sometimes leave them on for that reason. Brown, papery edges on inner petals are a sign of age.
For flowers that grow in clusters or spikes, such as alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, eustoma or gladioli, look at the buds. A fresh stem has several closed or half-open buds that will open over the coming days. If every flower on the stem is fully open, the bouquet is at its peak today and will fade sooner.
Which fresh flowers last longest
Customers who send flowers to parents or grandparents often ask for a bouquet that will stand as long as possible. Chrysanthemums are the champions: spray chrysanthemums often last two to three weeks. Alstroemeria, carnations and eustoma typically last ten days to two weeks, because new buds keep opening. Cymbidium and phalaenopsis orchid stems also hold up very well in water.
Roses usually last around a week, sometimes longer depending on the variety and care; our Russian Rose Guide: Types, Costs & Keeping Them Fresh Longer goes through the differences. Tulips last five to seven days and keep growing in the vase, bending towards the light. Peonies and hydrangeas are spectacular but shorter-lived: peonies open fast in warm rooms, and hydrangeas are very sensitive to lack of water.
If long vase life is the priority, tell us when you order. A mixed bouquet built around chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and eustoma, with a few roses as accents, gives both a festive look and a long life. A bouquet of only peonies is a beautiful choice for a single evening or a few days.
Bouquets we can deliver
The first hour after the bouquet arrives
What happens in the first hour has a big effect on how long fresh flowers last. Unwrap the bouquet, but keep the binding if it is a hand-tied arrangement so the shape holds. Fill a clean vase with cool water. Then cut 2 to 3 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or secateurs; blunt scissors crush the stem and block water uptake.
Remove every leaf that would sit below the waterline. Leaves in water start to rot within a day and feed bacteria, which clog the stems. If the bouquet came with a sachet of flower food, dissolve it in the water: it feeds the flowers and slows bacterial growth. Bouquets in a box with floral foam do not need a vase; just add water to the foam daily so it stays saturated.
Give the flowers an hour or two to drink before judging them. After transport, especially in frost or heat, some flowers look tired at first and recover once they have taken up water. Roses with slightly drooping heads often straighten after a fresh cut and a few hours in cool water.
Daily care to keep flowers fresh
The routine in our shops is simple and works at home too. Change the water every two days, or daily in a warm room, and trim a centimetre off the stems each time. Wash the vase when you change the water rather than just topping up, because residue on the glass carries bacteria into the fresh water. Our article How Often to Change Vase Water to Keep Flowers Fresh explains why this matters so much.
Placement is the second factor. Keep flowers away from radiators, direct sunlight and draughts, and never next to a fruit bowl: ripening fruit releases ethylene, which speeds up wilting. At night you can move the vase to the coolest room in the flat. In winter, Russian apartments with central heating are warm and dry, so this step makes a noticeable difference; see How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh in a Warm Russian Apartment.
Remove faded flowers as soon as you see them. Taking out one wilted rose or a spent chrysanthemum head keeps the bouquet looking fresh and helps the remaining flowers. When half the bouquet has faded, the survivors can be cut shorter and put into a smaller vase, where they will look full again for several more days.
Fresh flowers in different seasons
Season changes how flowers travel and what is at its best. In winter the main risk is frost: a bouquet carried even a short distance in sharp cold can be damaged, so couriers wrap flowers carefully and the recipient should bring them inside promptly. Do not put frozen-looking flowers into hot water; cool water and a quiet corner let them recover gradually.
Spring is the season of tulips, mimosa and hyacinths, especially around 8 March, when demand is enormous across Russia. Summer brings peonies, garden-style roses and field flowers, but heat shortens vase life, so water changes need to be daily. Autumn is the best time for chrysanthemums, dahlias and rich, warm colours, and flowers generally last well in the cooler weather.
If you order for a date in a busy season, pre-order early. Fresh flowers are best when the florist has time to prepare the bouquet calmly rather than in the middle of a holiday rush.
Ordering fresh flowers to Russia
We deliver flowers across Russia. Delivery within the city costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities express delivery takes 1 to 2 hours after confirmation, or you can choose an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes, a time window (09-12, 12-15, 15-18, 18-21), or pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock.
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so the flowers do not wait outside a door in the cold or heat. If the recipient is not home, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, hand the bouquet to a neighbour or concierge. Delivery is anonymous by default, and a card with your text is free; sign it if you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers.
Payment is online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted via Robokassa. Choose a bouquet in our Bouquets catalogue, and for any questions about freshness, timing or the address, call us at 8 (812) 507-67-05. We deliver bouquets across Russia in 1–2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How long do fresh flowers last?
Most fresh cut flowers last about a week with good care. Chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, carnations and eustoma often last two weeks, while peonies and tulips are shorter-lived.
How can I tell if a bouquet is fresh?
Check for firm stems, crisp green leaves and buds that are still opening. For roses, the base of the head should feel firm, not soft.
Should I cut the stems of fresh flowers?
Yes. Cut 2 to 3 cm at an angle with a sharp blade as soon as the bouquet arrives, and trim a little more every time you change the water.
Can I send fresh flowers to Russia from abroad?
Yes. We deliver across Russia, and you can pay online with a foreign bank card via Robokassa. City delivery costs 500 RUB.
Do you deliver fresh flowers at night in Saint Petersburg?
Yes, in Saint Petersburg delivery works around the clock. Choose the time in the recipient's local time zone when you order.
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