How to Care for Alstroemeria by Post: From Bud to Bloom

If you have just opened a fresh flower delivery from us and found a bundle of leafy green stems with tight, closed buds, you might be wondering where all the colour is.

Don't worry—this is exactly how premium Alstroemeria by post should look!

At our flower shop, we deliberately select and pack our Peruvian Lilies when they are still in their protective bud phase. This ensures they don't get damaged or bruised during their journey through the post. Once you place them in water, these quiet green buds will slowly awaken, bursting into a cloud of vibrant, exotic colour that will last for up to three weeks.

To help your fresh postal Alstroemerias make the ultimate transition from bud to bloom, follow our simple step-by-step florist care guide.

1. Clean the Stems and Strip the Foliage

Alstroemerias are incredibly leafy plants. While the lush green leaves look beautiful, they are also very thirsty and can quickly spoil your vase water.

• Pinch Off the Lower Leaves: Gently strip away any leaves that will sit below the water level of your vase. If left submerged, these leaves will decay, breeding bacteria that will clog the stems and stop the buds from opening.

• Remove Excess Upper Leaves: Even above the water line, feel free to pinch off any yellowing or excess foliage. Removing a few extra leaves redirects the stem's energy away from maintaining greenery and puts it entirely into opening those gorgeous flower buds.

2. Give Them a Fresh, Angled Cut

During their journey in the post, the ends of the Alstroemeria stems will have sealed over to protect themselves. You need to reopen these drinking channels so they can hydrate deeply.

Using a sharp, clean pair of floristry shears or a kitchen knife, trim roughly 2–3cm off the bottom of each stem. Always cut at a 45-degree angle. This prevents the stem from sitting completely flat against the bottom of the vase, which would block water intake, and maximises the surface area available for drinking.

3. Use Warm Water to Speed Up the Bloom

If you are hosting a dinner party or simply want to see those vibrant colours as quickly as possible, here is a fantastic insider trick:

The Lukewarm Water Trick: Fill your clean vase with lukewarm water (not hot!) instead of cold tap water, and mix in your flower food packet. Warm water molecules move faster, allowing the thirsty stems to drink much more rapidly. This quickly triggers the buds to start opening, giving you beautiful blooms in half the time.

4. Keep the Water Topped Up

Because Alstroemerias are incredibly long-lasting, they will drink a surprising amount of water over their lifespan.

Check your vase daily and keep it topped up with fresh water. Every three days, empty the vase completely, give it a quick wash to remove any bacteria, and recut the stems by a tiny fraction to keep them drinking perfectly. Keep them in a bright spot away from direct midday heat and drafts to ensure their colours remain bold and brilliant.

Send a Burst of Fresh Summer Colour

Ready to watch the magic happen on your own dining table? Or want to surprise a friend with a gift that truly lasts? Explore our farm-fresh selection and order your alstroemeria flower delivery with free UK shipping today.