Christmas in Melbourne is always warm, busy, and beautiful. Fresh flowers instantly elevate a home, bringing joy and a touch of calm to the festive rush. But Melbourne’s summer heat can be harsh on delicate blooms. As a Melbourne florist, I’ve spent many year refining how to help flowers thrive in this climate. Here’s my personal guide to keeping your festive arrangements looking their best through Christmas and beyond.
Start with Summer-Smart Flowers
The secret to long-lasting arrangements begins with what I choose thoughtfully in the studio. Some flowers naturally handle heat better than others. In Melbourne’s summer, I often work with:
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Australian natives such as banksia, protea, and leucadendron.
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Tropical stems like anthurium and cymbidium orchids.
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Classic summer favourites such as lisianthus, hydrangea, and amaryllis.
I always select blooms that are slightly under-open, so they unfold beautifully over several days. Every stem is carefully conditioned in temperature-controlled rooms before leaving the studio. This ensures you begin with flowers at their freshest.
Place Flowers Where They’ll Stay Cool and Comfortable
Once flowers reach your home, placement becomes everything. Avoid direct sunlight, fireplaces, and air-conditioning vents, as they dry blooms quickly. I recommend:
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A shaded dining or console table.
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A cool kitchen bench top away from ovens or windows.
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Bedrooms or hallways where the temperature remains steady.
If you’re entertaining outdoors, display your flowers when guests arrive, then bring them back inside once the evening cools. This simple rhythm of “display and rest” can extend their life by days.
Keep Water Clean and Fresh
Water quality is critical, especially during Melbourne’s warmer weeks. I change vase water every day and always trim stems on a sharp angle. This keeps their drinking channels open.
Here’s my method:
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Empty the vase and rinse it with warm water and a splash of bleach.
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Refill with fresh, room-temperature water.
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Change water daily.
If you prefer to add a home solution of flower food, mix one teaspoon of sugar, a few drops of bleach, and half a teaspoon of lemon juice per litre of water. It’s a simple formula that nourishes the flowers while reducing bacteria. If you'd like to explore this more, please ready our DIY Guide to Flower Food.
Mist Delicate Blooms Daily
Melbourne’s air can be surprisingly dry in summer. I lightly mist the petals of hydrangeas, orchids, and roses each morning using a fine spray bottle. Keep the mist gentle and about 30 centimetres from the flowers. This is enough to refresh the blooms without spotting.
If you’re heading away for a few days, move your flowers into a tiled, shaded area with plenty of water and curtains closed. They’ll handle the break far better than being left in full light.
Let Flowers Rest Overnight
Flowers, like people, benefit from cooler rest. Depending on how the flowers are looking, each evening I'll shift arrangements to a laundry, bathroom, or cool hallway. This nightly temperature drop helps slow the natural ageing process, preserving petals and scent.
Professional florists store arrangements in chilled rooms between installations; you can achieve a similar effect at home with this simple ritual.
Re-Style After Christmas Day
By Boxing Day, some stems will naturally tire. I rarely discard an entire arrangement. Instead, I remove any wilted flowers, trim the remaining healthy ones shorter, and place them in smaller vases. Grouped on a bedside table or kitchen bench, they create effortless elegance with minimal effort.
Pairing these with a few fresh sprigs from the garden, such as rosemary, eucalyptus, or olive, keeps your home feeling refreshed and fragrant well into the New Year.
Design with Real Life in Mind
The most beautiful flowers are the ones that work for your home and lifestyle. During the holidays, I always remind clients that flowers should bring ease, not stress. A few ideas:
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Choose one statement piece for the entry and smaller touches throughout the home.
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Keep table arrangements low enough for conversation across the setting.
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Select blooms with subtle fragrance that won’t overpower food or candles.
These thoughtful details transform flowers from decoration into experience. Something guests feel as much as they see.
Behind the Scenes: How I Prepare Every Arrangement
Every bouquet and table design from Kate Hill Flowers receives careful pre-conditioning. That means:
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Freshly cut stems rehydrated in fresh water.
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Balanced nutrients to encourage healthy blooms.
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Temperature-controlled storage and delivery.
This ensures your arrangement arrives ready to flourish in the warmth of a Melbourne summer. My team and I treat each order as though it’s destined for our own table, which is simply our standard of care.
The Joy of Floral Mindfulness
One of my favourite moments during Christmas is quietly tending to the flowers at the end of the day by trimming stems, changing water, watching buds open. It’s a gentle pause amid the noise of celebration.
Caring for your flowers this way not only keeps them alive longer but also invites you to slow down and appreciate the season’s natural beauty.
Closing Reflection
Melbourne’s festive season is unique: warm, lively, and full of connection. With a little knowledge and consistent care, your flowers can reflect that same enduring beauty. I hope these tips help your arrangements thrive through Christmas and into the New Year.
If you’d like help choosing or styling your festive blooms, I’d love to guide you. Our team at Kate Hill Flowers is always here to make sure your flowers bring joy, both beautifully and effortlessly. Alternatively, please enjoy browsing our Christmas, Summer and Hardy Collections for more beautiful options at Christmas time.
Kate x
