How to care for flowers in summer (at 35 °C / 95 °F)

In January (summer in Argentina, with temperatures around 35 °C / 95 °F), a bouquet that would last twelve days in July can droop in four. Heat speeds everything up: the flower's metabolism, water evaporation and, above all, the growth of bacteria in the vase.

What changes in summer

1. Change the water every day. In winter every two days is enough; in the heat, it isn't. The warm water in a vase is a bacterial culture.
2. Use more water. Fill the vase well: the flower drinks much more and the level drops fast.
3. A cool, shaded spot. No direct sun, and no west-facing window in the afternoon.
4. Be careful with air conditioning. It is as harmful as heat: it dries the air and dehydrates the petals. Never in the direct airflow of the unit.
5. At night, move it to the coolest place in the house. In summer this really buys you days.

Which species handle the heat

Handle it well	Struggle
Sunflower	Peony
Gladiolus	Tulip
Alstroemeria	Thin-stemmed rose
Carnation	Freesia
Anthurium and bird of paradise	Hydrangea (unless you soak it)
Chrysanthemum	Fully open lily

Rule of thumb: in summer it pays to choose seasonal flowers. The ones that grow naturally in December are adapted to the heat; those forced out of season are not. The details are in the Argentine flower calendar.

If the bouquet is a gift and it's hot

• Schedule the delivery early or late in the afternoon, not at midday.
• Make sure someone will be there. A bouquet waiting in a building lobby in the sun is ruined in twenty minutes. It is the number one reason for complaints in January and February.
• Consider a plant. An anthurium, a succulent or a bonsai don't have this problem.
• If it is for an outdoor event, choose hardy species and arrange them as late as possible.

An honest note about our deliveries

On heat-wave days we work with tighter margins: if we see that a time window puts the product at risk, we would rather let you know and reschedule than deliver something that will droop that same night. We prefer the awkward phone call to the complaint the next day.