A bouquet contains several flowers, some of which may require different care. Fortunately, these "manuals" for caring for flowers and plants are not very different from each other and there are some "rules" that can always be applied when caring for flowers and plants.

Why is it good to know how to best care for your green pearls?

• Reason: the lifespan of flowers and plants is increased and at the same time gives radiant beauty to the entire room
• Reason: Everyone will admire you for your floral splendor. Which reason you choose is of course your little secret 😉

Bouquet care tips

Step 1: Sufficiently large vase

Take a sufficiently large vase and clean it well with a few drops of chlorine.

Step 2: Water

Vase clean? Then fill it with fresh water.

Step 3: Flower Food

Did you find a colored bag on your bouquet? Nice! This contains flower food to keep your bouquet beautiful for as long as possible. Open the bag and empty it into the vase. Stir well to distribute it throughout the water.

Step 4: Cut diagonally

Take your beautiful bouquet and cut the flowers 1cm from the stems diagonally (preferably with a knife, but please watch your fingers!)

Step 5: Bouquet in the vase

The long-awaited moment... The bouquet can go into the vase!

Step 6: Check that there are no leaves in the water

Please double check to make sure there are no leaves in the water as these will rot in the water and shorten the life of the flowers (and we don't want that!)

Step 7: Choose a nice spot

Are you done with the first six steps? Then now choose a nice place where you can display your bright works of art. Here are two more places where you should not place your vase: Do not place your bouquet in the blazing sun or next to a fruit bowl!

• Blazing sun dries out the flowers because the flowers evaporate more water than they can absorb through the stem
• Fruit produces ethylene gas, which promotes flower aging. (and we don't want old flowers!)

Step 8: Enjoy pride

And when the bouquet is placed, you can be proud of yourself! You are now an expert in flower care!

Plant care

Okay, it's time for the next step. Now that you know how to care for a bouquet of flowers, you will discover the secret of plant care! Just as there are many flowers, there are actually many different types of plants. But if you follow these tips, your plants will thrive.

Step 1: Enough space to grow

Once you've bought (or received) a plant, you'll probably want to put it in a nice pot right away! When choosing a pot, make sure the plant has enough room to grow. Is it the same as decanting? Then you probably need a larger pot.

Is the plant already in a pot? Then you can go straight to step 6!

Repotting? What do you need:

• A nice pot
• Potting soil (universal)
• A bucket full of water

Step 2: Remove plant from plastic pot

Once you've found a nice pot, take the plant out of the plastic pot and pull the root balls apart a little.

Step 3: Fill the pot with potting soil

Fill the pot with potting soil and make a hole for the plant.

Step 4: Submerge plant in a bucket of water

Then submerge the plant in a bucket of water for a few seconds until the water stops bubbling.

Step 5: Place plant in pot

Then place the plant in the pot, making sure all the roots are deep in the pot and there is fresh potting soil on top.

Step 6: Water

Water the plant:

• Is it warm outside? Then water your plant once a week.
• Is it cold outside? Then add a little water every 2 weeks.

What is a little? A bit is the line between a few drops and a wet plant (water is at the bottom of the pot).

Why is a wet plant not good?

If you water too much, the water will stick to the bottom and start to form. In technical language (which you will know from now on) this is called root rot.

To get to the point: what amount of water is right? They give a small splash of water.

How do you check if you have given enough water?

This trick can be used on almost all plants except succulents (cacti) or orchids: stick a finger into the soil to check if it feels moist. The top layer of soil is moist, but deeper in the soil it can be be very dry. If this is the case? Then a little more! Is it really very wet downstairs? If necessary, hold the glass diagonally in the sink (or outside) to allow excess water to drain out.

Step #7: Plant-Based Food

Do you also have a bottle of plant food at home? Then, once a month, mix a lid of plant food with water and water your plant(s).

Step #8: Give the plant a place

So the plant is in a pot and has been watered and fed. Now it is time for you as a plant expert to choose a suitable location for your plant. What do you have to consider?

Place on the windowsill in full sun? This is only a good idea for succulents like cacti and aloe vera and the sanseveria (which can handle anything). Here's a trick to always make the right choice:

• The thicker the leaf, the more heat and sunlight the plant can tolerate.
• The lighter the leaves, the more light (not sun) the plant needs.
• Wherever you want to place a houseplant, it is important that there is a window where daylight can come in. Ultimately, without sunlight, your plant will not survive.
• However, there are plants that can survive with very little daylight. Ideal in a dark place in the living room or hallway. These shade plants grow slowly and require little water and nutrients. They often have darker leaves than plants that like to be in the light.
• If a plant is in the shade, the leaf will also be darker and consume less than if you place it by the window. Examples are: the Zamioculcas, Philodendron, Monstera, Kentia Palm, Sansevieria (which survives everything) and some Calathea species.

Congratulations! You have now taken care of the plant, perhaps put it in a new pot and placed the plant in a nice place! And now? Enjoy!