Change the water every one to two days. Keep the flowers in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Store the flowers in the fridge overnight. Keep the flowers far away from fruits and vegetables – they can cause them to wilt faster!

Bacteria is one of the main causes of premature bouquet deaths. Its presence in vase water clogs stems and speeds up decay. Dehydration, either from a lack of water or a stem’s inability to absorb it, results in wilting. And exposure to ethylene gas exuded by neighboring decaying flowers or ripening fruit hastens aging.

Beautiful blooms line the aisles at Studio 539 in Providence during the Mother’s Day rush. “We have eight designers working all day,” Co-owner Grace Dugan said. “Wrap bouquets, bouquets that are ready to go in vases,