How to tell if flowers are fresh

Determining flower freshness for the novice is awkward at best and sometimes impossible but here are a few tips.

Check not only the bloom itself but the stem and foliage. The stem should look healthy without withered foliage, "sliminess" or yellowing. Likewise, the leaves should have a healthy overall appearance and not be wilted or browning. The bloom should (in most cases) be opening but not fully opened. There should never be bruises on stem or bloom.

The water the flowers are stored in should be clean and not cloudy. There should never be decayed matter in or around fresh flower stock. Loose flowers should be wrapped at time of sale. Flowers which are held in market wrap such as cellophane produce decay and do not permit the naturally occurring ethylene gas to escape thereby reducing the life of the flowers.

You will always benefit by buying your flowers from a florist who is a professional in every phase of floral marketing. Non florist such as grocery stores stock flowers but are not professionals at caring for them. Call your florist if the flowers do not meet your approval.