How to Care for Cut Asian Lily Bouquets

Remove any leaves on the stems that will be submerged under the water when you place the flowers in the vase. Use a sharp knife to do this.

Use a sharp knife, or hand shears, to cut approximately 1 inch off the stem ends. Make the cuts diagonally to allow as much open area for water absorption as possible. Hold the stems under water while making the cuts to prevent air bubbles from developing; bubbles can prevent water absorption by the cut stems

Place the newly cut Asian lily stems immediately into a container or vase that is filled with a mixture of commercial floral preservative and lukewarm water. Follow the directions on the floral preservative package for proper mixing.

Clip off the lily's center stamens as each bud opens. The yellow or orange pollen at the end of each stamen begins to dry as it is exposed to air and will drop off , discoloring lily petals, furniture, clothing, and hands. Removing the lily stamen as soon as the bloom opens alleviates this problem.

Remove the lily stems and change out the vase water with a fresh water and floral preservative mixture every one to two days to extend their life. Every three to four days, recut the stem ends and thoroughly clean the vase before refilling it with fresh water and floral preservative.