How to Make Your Hawaiian Sunrise Bouquet Last

One of the great bouquets our Flower of the Month Club members receive is a beautiful "Hawaiian Sunrise Bouquet" full of tropical flowers. Since these are not garden-variety flowers for most people, we have some special tips for keeping your bouquet of these exotic flowers fresh.

1. We recommend immersing all elements of your bouquet in room temperature water for a few minutes when you first unwrap them. This will take the chill out.
2. When arranging, remove all foliage that will fall below the water line of your vase. Cut off one-quarter to one-half inch from each stem, being careful to avoid damage. Use a very sharp knife, with the angle cut made under running water or submerged in water. Immediately place in the water-filled container.
3. In all cases, the water should be just barely warm, a slightly higher temperature than your own body temperature. For longest vase life, replace the water every two to three days, and re-cut all stems, again at an angle.
4. If a stem appears to need a little lift, revive it by recutting the stem (again, under warm water), and then laying the entire flower in that same warm water. When revived (about thirty minutes), you can return it to your arrangement.
5. Keep flowers away from drafts and sources of heat. Never refrigerate tropical flowers.

HAWAIIAN SUNRISE BOUQUET The spectacular elements of your Hawaiian Sunrise Bouquet will bring beautiful colors and life to your home during these dark winter days! This month's bouquet features a collection of vibrant Hawaiian-grown tropical foliage highlighted by exotic flowers brought to Hawaii from several global localities. Planted in the fertile Hawaiian soils, they have flourished over the years. While it is truly a Hawaiian bouquet, there's no denying the fact that the different components have an international influence! The foliage centers around a sturdy stem of Song of India, whose scientific name is Dracaena Reflexa, a species of dracaena that is native to both Madagascar and Mauritius. The other piece of really unique foliage is a stem of Phoenix Palm, a genus of 14 species of palm native to the Canary Islands and northern Africa. The remaining greenery includes hybrids of Ti Leaves whose scientific name is Cordyline Fruitcosa. Native to Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and Northern Australia, they are not native to New Zealand or Hawaii where they grow abundantly today. Instead, they were brought there by early Polynesian settlers who used the Ti leaves for a variety of things, including food, various articles of clothing, and shelter. The vibrant flowers in your bouquet consists of unique hybrids of Anthurium Andreanum and Amnicola, both plants having their original roots in the warm soils of Jamaica. Additionally, you'll see we've included two stems of Heliconia, called Tropic Fleur. These stems are native to both Central and South America. Close your eyes and deeply inhale the scents of this Hawaiian Bouquet. Can you hear the islanders blowing on the conch at sunrise? Enjoy your bouquet, and the islands!