Flowers in a Vase

Who they suit

They are a good fit for a student in a rented room, someone who has just moved, or an older person who would otherwise have to dig a vase out of a high cupboard. They also work at the office: on the reception desk, the meeting room table or a new colleague's desk. Nothing needs trimming or arranging, and the arrangement looks exactly as the florist intended.

Here you will find roses in a vase, tulips, peonies in a vase in season and mixed arrangements. The vase stays with the recipient and will come in handy for the next flowers.

Making them last

Flowers in a vase need the same care as a bouquet. Every two days, pour out the water, rinse the vase and refill it. Trim the stems by a centimeter at an angle while you are at it. Remove fading flowers, because they speed up wilting in the rest. Do not put the vase on a windowsill above a radiator or in full sun, and in a home with children or a cat, choose a stable spot away from the edge of the table. If a sachet of flower food came with them, add it as the packet says. When the flowers are over, wash the vase in hot soapy water so it is ready for the next bouquet.

Occasions

A vase arrangement makes a lovely thank-you, since it decorates the room instantly. It also suits birthdays, name days and the opening of a new office, or a family lunch when the hosts have everything else on their minds. For a name day at work, the arrangement goes straight onto the colleague's desk with no hunt for a container. For a hospital, choose a smaller arrangement, as bedside tables have little room.