Put them in warm water
When you first get your gerberas, place them in a vase of warm water to help keep the stems straight. Be careful not to use water that's too hot though!
Dangle flowers freely
Another tip to keep the stems straight when you first get your gerberas, is to create a grid with tape at the top of your vase so that the stem hangs down in the water without resting on the bottom. This allows the stem to soak up the water and encourages it to straighten out if it has previously changed shape before arriving in your home.
Cut the stem underwater
If you are going to cut the stems to keep all your flowers the same length, try and do this underwater to remove any existing air pockets.
Keep them hydrated
For as long as you keep them in your house, gerberas will need plenty of water to stay healthy. Both the stem and the leaves require lots of water to keep the flower looking perky for a week or even longer.
Remove bad petals
Reclaim flowers that are less healthy by removing any bad petals. Whilst the petals won't grow back, taking away the rotten petals will result in a prettier flower for you to present in your vase.
