Conditioning

The professional process of preparing fresh-cut flowers for display by stripping foliage below the waterline, recutting stems under water, and hydrating in cool water for 4 to 12 hours before arrangement.

Why it matters

Conditioning is what separates florist-quality arrangement longevity from grocery-store bouquet wilt. Properly conditioned flowers have already drawn full water pressure into their stems before going into the arrangement, so they hold form for longer. Unconditioned flowers cavitate (air bubbles in the stem) and wilt within 24 to 48 hours regardless of vase care.

Grocery-store bouquets are typically not conditioned. The flower volume looks impressive on the shelf but the plants are running on residual moisture from the cooler.

Best practices

When you bring flowers home, condition them yourself: strip leaves below water line, recut stems at 45 degrees under running cool water, place in cool water with floral preservative for 4 hours minimum (overnight is better) before arranging or displaying. The extra 4 hours doubles vase life on average.

Frequently asked

Should I condition tulips the same way as roses?

Mostly, but with two exceptions. Tulips continue growing in the vase (they will arch upward toward light) so cut stems shorter than you think you need. Tulips also prefer cooler water (45 F or so) for the conditioning soak. Most other flowers tolerate room-temperature water.