How to Arrange Flowers Like a Florist (Even If You’re Not One)

There’s something magical about receiving fresh flowers – the scents, the colours, the thrill of an unexpected delivery. But once the Posy is in your hands and out of its packaging, you might find yourself wondering: now what?

Don’t worry. If you’ve just received one of our Weekly Posies in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Stellenbosch, Pretoria or Ballito, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it at home.

First Things First: How to Help Your Flowers Last Longer

Even though our flowers are freshly picked and locally sourced, they still need a little love to stay their best for as long as possible. A few quick and easy steps can seriously extend their vase life.

1. Trim those stems – yes, really
We know, we know. It’s easy to pop the bouquet straight into water and move on. But trimming the stems (at a slight angle) before placing them in the vase makes a huge difference. And here’s the trick most people forget: trim them again a few days later. You’ll notice an instant perk-up as they drink up some more fresh water. 

2. Use the Petal&Post flower food
We always include a little bottle of Posy Food with your Posy. Stir it into cold water before adding your bouquet – it helps fight bacteria and keeps those blooms fresher for longer.

3. Keep leaves out of the water
Any leaves below the waterline will decompose quickly and encourage bacteria growth. Strip off any that might end up submerged, and if a stray leaf does fall in, give the vase a quick rinse and refresh the water.

4. Watch the temperature
Flowers don’t love extremes. Keep your vase out of direct sunlight, away from heaters, aircons or fans. A cool, shaded spot is just right.

Let’s Talk Flower Styling

How to Arrange Your Posy Like a Pro

Our daily posies are hand-wrapped and prearranged, so they’re ready to go straight into a vase – no fuss required. That said, if you want to finesse your floral styling (or just enjoy the process), here are a few tricks we swear by:

1. Vase size matters
Choose a vase that suits the size of your bouquet. A good rule of thumb? The flowers should be no more than twice the height of the vase. If they’re towering above it, give them a snip until they sit nicely.

2. Don’t be afraid to play
Even though the posy is pre-styled, you can always adjust it. Maybe one stem looks better a little higher, or you want more greenery on one side. Trust your eye and enjoy the creative moment.

3. Balance is key
Spread out your florals and foliage – you want a nice mix across the whole vase. If everything’s sitting on one side, gently rotate and shuffle until it feels right.

4. Start again if you need to
There’s no shame in a do-over. Take it all out, trim a bit more, and rebuild. Flower arranging isn’t meant to be perfect – it’s meant to be fun.

Final Tip: Have fun! 

Arranging flowers is one of those small, satisfying self-care rituals that turns a bunch of blooms into something personal. Pretend you’re in your florist-era, or practice for when you open up your own flower shop one day! Next time you receive a gifted Posy (or treat yourself to one – would recommend to a friend), take a moment, grab your secateurs, and get creative.

If you’re ever unsure which vase to use or want some inspo on styling, we often share ideas on Instagram. And of course, if you’re in one of our delivery areas, we’ll make sure fresh flowers keep finding their way to you.