Daffodil: Squeeze the substance from the lower part of the stem before placing in one or two inches of water. Since daffodils do not like oasis, arrange in flower picks or small jars buried in oasis, or punch holes in oasis with a pencil fo each daffodil.
Dahlia: Place stems in two to three inches of boiling water for a few minute, then immediately into cold water. Condition overnight in cold water.
Daisy (shasta): Place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition for two hours or more in deep, warm water.
Daylily (hemerocallis): The flowers will last for only one day. Buds continue to open in water. Cut stems on a slant. Condition for several hours in warm water.
Delphinium: Cut when the upper flowers are in bud and the florets have just opened. Condition overnight in deep, cold water.
Deutzia: Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Dianthus (sweet william): Re-cut stems. Condition overnight in cold water. Never leave out of water before arranging as color will fade.
Dogwood Blossoms (cornus): Cut in early morning or late afternoon. Cut before fully open. Split woody stems. Condition overnight in warm water. Each small branch cut from the main stem must be reconditioned.
Doronicum (leopard's bane): Condition overnight in warm water.
Dusty Miller: Split stems. Condition overnight in deep, warm water.
Echinops (globe thistle): Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Elaeagnus: Split stems. Place in boiling water briefly. Condition overnight in deep, cool water.
Epimedium: Split stems and dip in boiling water for twenty seconds. Condition overnight in deep, cold water.
Euonymus: Split stems. Condition for twelve hours or more in warm water.
Evergreens: Split stems. Condition overnight in hot water.
Ferns: Pick after spores are brown. Submerge overnight in cold water. Remove and place stems in water until ready to arrange.
Feverfew: Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Fleabane (erigeron): Place stems in boiling water for several minutes. Condition overnight in warm water.
Foam Flower (erigeron): Submerge leaves in cool water and condition for several hours.
Forget-Me-Not: Dip stems in boiling water. Condition overnight in cold water.
Forsythia: Split stems. Place in boiling water for one or two minutes and then immediately into cold water. Add a dash of alcohol to the water. Condition overnight.
Foxglove (digitalis): Condition overnight in warm water.
Frangipani: Place stems in cold water for five minutes and then in deep, cold water. Handle with wet hands and place in an air tight plastic bag in the refrigerator until ready to arrange.
Freesia: Place in cool water for several hours. Add a dash of alcohol to the water.
Fuchsia: Place stems in boiling water for a few minutes. Condition overnight in cold water.
Gaillardia (blanket flower): No particular conditioning is necessary. Will last well in water.
Gardenia: Spray with water. Keep in an air-tight plastic bag in the refrigerator until used. Handle with wet hands only.
Geranium: Place in warm water for several hours. Spray with hair spray to keep petals from falling off so quickly.
Gerbera: Dip stems in boiling water. Condition overnight in cold water.
Geum: Cut stems short and place in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in warm water.
Gladiolus: Cut when second flower opens. Leave out of water for one-half hour. Split stems and condition overnight in cold water.
Globe Amaranth: Remove any unnecessary foliage. Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Golden Rain Tree: Cut when flowers are one-half open. Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Goldenrod (solidago): Remove most of the leaves and condition overnight in tepid water.
Hazel (corylus): Peel off two or three inches of bark and split the stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Heliotrope: Split stems. Place in hot water and condition overnight.
Herbs: Avoid new growth. Condition overnight in tepid water. Spray foliage with a fine mist of cool water.
Hollyhock (althaea): Place stems in boiling watere for several minutes. Condition in a dark room for at least 48 hours in deep, warm water.
Honeysuckle: Dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition overnight in cool water.
Hosta: Cut when two or three flowers are open. Split stems. Place in cold water almost up to flower heads and condition overnight. The leaves should be submerged overnight in cold water.
Hyacinth (grape): Squeeze substance out of stem. Condition overnight in cold water.
Hydrangea: Flowers will last better if they are cut when they are mature. If possible, cut some woody stem with the flower. Split and sear stems. Submerge in tepid water for several hours. Spray flowers with a fine mist of cool water.
Iris: Cut stem on the slant after flower begins to open. It will be in full bloom by morning. Condition for several hours in cold water. Remove ach flower as it fades.
Ivy: Submerge in cool water for two to four hours. Condition overnight in cold water.
Ixia: Condition overight in cold water.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit: Condition overnight in cold water.
Jacob's Ladder (polemonium): Place in hot water. Leave until water cools. If flowers wilt, repeat the process.
Jasmine: Dip stems in boiling water. Condition for seveal hours in cool water.
Jupiter's Beard (centranthus): Split stems. Cndition overnight in cold water.
Knotweed: Place s tems in boiling water for a few minues. Condition overight in warm water.
Laburnum: Split stems and scrape off two inches of bark. Remove unnecessary leaves. Condition overnight in warm water.
Lady's Mantle (alchemilla mollis): Remove a few of the leaves. Place stems in deep, warm water. Condition overnight.
Lamb's Ears (stachys lanata): Dip stems in boiling water for twenty seconds or sear stems. Condition overnight in tepid water. Do not submerge hairy leaves.
Lantana: Split stems. Condition overnight in hot water.
Larkspur: Condition overnight in cool water.
Laurel: Split woody stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Lavender: Cut flowers when one-half the spike is open. Split stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Lavatera: Place stems in one inch of boiling water. Then fill container with cold water and condition overnight.
Leaves: If you wish leaves to be curled or to go in wavy shapes, tie them with strong into a loose or tight roll. Place in deep, cold water for several hours.
Lenten Rose: Make a shallow cut down the length of the stem. Condition overnight in deep, cold water. Will last longer if arranged in deep water.
Liatris: Cut spikes when the flowers are one-half open. No special treatment is necessary.
Ligustrum: Split stems. Condition overnight in deep, cool water.
Lilac (syringa): Split stems. Strip off all leaves except for the one nearest the top blossom. Peel off bark two inches up the stem. Dip stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Add a dash of alcohol to tepid water and condition overnight. For arrangements, leaves can be used separately and conditioned in the same way.
Lily: Cut stems on a slant and condition in warm water for several hours. Remove stamen tips with scissors to keep flowers clean. When cutting a lily, never cut more than one-half of the stem because the bulb feeds from the remainder of the stem.
Lily-of-the-Valley: Condition for an hour or two in deep, warm water.
Lobelia (cardinal flower): Cut when one-fourth ot one-half of the flowering spike is open. Place stem ends in boiling water for a few minutes. Condition several hours in tepid water. Remove faded flowers as upper buds unfold.
Lupine: Cut when flowering spike is about one-half open. Fill hollow stems with water and place in a weak starch and water solution to prevent petals from dropping.
Lychnis (campion): Condition overnight in warm water.
Lythrum (purple loosestrife): Important to cut when one-fourth or less of the flower bud is open. Condition overnight in warm water.
Magnolia: Scrape bark away from base of stems. Split stems. Place in hot water and allow to cool in water before arranging.
Mahonia: Peel off about two inches of bark from base of the stems. Split stems. Place in boiling water for several minutes. Condition for six hours or more in warm water.
Maidenhair Fern (adiantum): Submerge whole stem in hot water. When water cools tie in a plastic bag and leave in a cool place for one or two days.
Marguerite: Re-cut stems underwater. Condition overnight in warm water.
Maple Leaves (in autumn): Hammer stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Marigold: Re-cut stems underwater. Condition overnight in cold water.
Milkweed: Cut when one-half open. Remove as much foliage as possible. Sear stems. Condition overnight in warm water.
Mimosa: Cut when one-half in flower. Submerge flower heads in cold water for a few seconds; then dip the stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Condition for several hours in warm water.