This Valentine’s Day bouquets of red roses will be sent across the world in celebration of this romantic occasion. After all, it is the most popular cut-flower in the world and for centuries it has been used as a symbol of love and passion.

In order to help you keep your flowers looking their best for the longest time possible, there are a few simple rules to follow in order to keep your bouquet of Valentine’s Day roses fresher for longer.

• Roses need lots of water and they need it right away so it is best to arrange your flowers as soon as possible and get them into a vase with fresh water.

• Remove dead or wilting leaves and discard any broken heads or wilting flowers

• Cut approximately 2cm from each stem while holding it under running water. Always use a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs as anything blunt risks damaging the stems and the flower’s ability to absorb water.

• The vase you are using needs to be clean and free from bacteria. Wash it with warm soapy water and thoroughly rinse before use.

• Use the flower food that comes with your bouquet and follow the instructions carefully. Home-made mixtures such as bleach or copper coins are rarely as effective as proper flower food.

• Leaves, stems or thorns that fall below the water level in your vase once the flowers have been placed in it should be removed as these will cause algae and bacteria to form.

• Roses prefer lukewarm water rather than cold water as it helps them to absorb nutrients more efficiently.

• Changing the water every two or three days

• Once arranged to your liking, keep your bouquet out of direct sunlight and away from cold draughts.

• If any of the flower heads die, remove them from the bouquet – this will help to keep the rest of the bouquet healthy

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