Artificial Flower Care Guide

Whether you are storing wedding flowers after your event, decorating your home, maintaining venue displays or preparing flowers for reuse, proper care can help keep artificial flowers looking fresh and realistic.

How Long Do Artificial Flowers Last?

Artificial flowers can last for many years when cared for correctly. Their lifespan depends on the materials used, where they are displayed and how much sunlight and weather exposure they receive.

Flowers used indoors generally last significantly longer than flowers displayed outdoors. Dust build-up and sunlight are usually the biggest factors affecting appearance over time.

How Do I Clean Artificial Flowers?

Artificial flowers can collect dust over time, particularly when displayed in homes, venues, shop displays or event spaces.

• Spin individual stems gently in your hand to remove loose dust.
• Wipe petals and leaves with a soft dry cloth.
• Use compressed air to remove dust from detailed flowers and greenery.
• For heavier dirt, rinse flowers in a bucket of clean water.
• After rinsing, gently spin stems by hand to remove excess water and allow them to air dry.

Avoid abrasive cleaners and harsh chemicals that may damage fabrics, coatings or painted finishes.

How Do I Remove Creases And Fix Squashed Petals?

Artificial flowers can occasionally become flattened during shipping, storage or transport. This is completely normal and can usually be corrected quickly.

Most petals can be reshaped by gently moulding them back into position with your fingers. For more stubborn creases, a small amount of heat or steam can help relax the material and restore the flower's shape.

• Use a handheld garment steamer on a low setting.
• Use a hairdryer on a low to medium heat setting.
• Hold flowers near steam from a kettle with care.
• Gently reshape petals by hand while warm.

Always test heat carefully, particularly with real touch flowers, foam flowers or flowers with painted finishes.

What If A Flower Head Falls Off?

Occasionally a flower head may become detached during transport, storage or handling. This is generally a simple repair.

Depending on the flower type and urgency of the repair, common solutions include:

• Hot glue gun for a strong repair.
• Super glue for permanent attachment.
• Glue dots for quick repairs and event setups.

Most detached flower heads can be reattached within a few minutes.

Can Artificial Flower Stems Be Cut?

Yes. Most artificial flower stems contain a wire core covered by plastic, making them easy to bend and trim to the required length.

Common cutting tools include:

• Wire cutters.
• Pliers.
• Commercial stem cutters.
• Heavy-duty craft cutters.

Always use an appropriate cutting tool rather than household scissors, which can become damaged when cutting wire stems.

Can Artificial Flowers Be Used Outdoors?

Most artificial flowers are designed for indoor use or temporary outdoor use for weddings, ceremonies and special events.

They can generally be used outdoors for a day, weekend or short event period. However, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, rain and weather can eventually affect colour and materials.

If flowers are displayed outdoors permanently, regular inspection and replacement may be required.

Will Artificial Flowers Fade?

Over time, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause some artificial flowers to fade.

Indoor flowers typically maintain their appearance for much longer than flowers displayed outdoors year-round.

If flowers are used for seasonal displays or weddings, storing them away from sunlight between uses can help preserve their colour.

Real Touch Flowers vs Traditional Artificial Flowers

Real touch flowers are designed to feel more realistic and are often used for bridal bouquets, premium arrangements and close-up displays.

While many customers prefer their realistic appearance, they can require a little more care than traditional artificial flowers.

• Real touch flowers often feel more realistic.
• Popular for bouquets and feature arrangements.
• May eventually show signs of ageing such as browning or fading at around 12 months of exposure..
• Some specialised coatings can crack over time.
• Can be harder to clean than standard artificial flowers.

Traditional artificial flowers can also create beautiful arrangements, particularly when used in larger displays and centrepieces.

Can Artificial Flowers Be Mixed With Fresh Flowers?

Yes. Artificial flowers and fresh flowers are often combined in wedding bouquets, centrepieces and event displays.

Mixing the two can help reduce costs, improve longevity and make it easier to achieve a particular colour palette or flower style.

How Should Artificial Flowers Be Stored?

When not in use, artificial flowers should be stored in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.

• Store away from direct sunlight.
• Avoid crushing petals and flower heads.
• Large tubs and storage containers work well.
• Keep arrangements dry and clean.
• Store garlands flat where practical.

Proper storage helps reduce fading, dust build-up and damage between uses.