Flower & Plant Care Guide – Rafael Florist | San Rafael, CA

Complete Care Guide

CARE BY
PLANT TYPE

Tap a category to filter. Each card gives step-by-step care, key metrics, and pro tips from our florists.

FLORAL FOAM

Floral arrangement in foam block

ArrangementModerate
5-7
Days life
Daily
Water check
Cool
Temp ideal
  1. 1Top up the container with fresh water daily — foam dries out from the top, starving stems.
  2. 2Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents to slow water evaporation.
  3. 3Remove spent blooms promptly — decay spreads through the foam and shortens the life of remaining flowers.
  4. 4Keep away from ripening fruit (ethylene gas), direct sunlight, and heat vents.
Pro tip: Pour water slowly into a gap in the foam, not over the top — it absorbs better and doesn't displace stems.

VASE ARRANGEMENT

Mixed bouquet in glass or ceramic vase

ArrangementEasy
5-7
Days life
2–3 days
Water change
65–72°F
Best temp
  1. 1Change water every 2–3 days, re-trimming stems each time.
  2. 2Re-cut each stem at a 45° angle under running water immediately before placing in the vase.
  3. 3Remove all leaves below the waterline — submerged foliage rots and breeds bacteria fast.
  4. 4Place away from fruit bowls, direct sun, and heating vents.
Pro tip: A clean vase + cold nights = the #1 way to double your flower's lifespan. No tricks needed.

FRESH BOUQUET

Roses, lilies, tulips, mixed seasonal

BouquetEasy
5-7
Days life
45°
Cut angle
Room
Water temp
  1. 1Trim ½ inch off each stem at a 45° angle — this exposes maximum surface area for water uptake.
  2. 2Fill vase with room-temperature water + provided flower food. Cold tap water shocks warm-season flowers.
  3. 3Strip all foliage below the waterline immediately. This one step prevents most bacterial growth.
  4. 4Keep away from ripening fruit (ethylene gas), direct sunlight, and heat vents.
Pro tip: Keep tulips separate — they keep growing after being cut and can crowd and bend other flowers in a mixed arrangement.

GREEN PLANTS

Pothos, ferns, rubber plants, fiddle leaf

PlantEasy–Medium
Years
Lifespan
Weekly
Watering
Bright
Light need
  1. 1Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry — stick your finger in to check before watering.
  2. 2Avoid over watering, do not allow plants to stand in water. Drain excess water to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
  3. 3Most tropical foliage plants prefer bright, indirect light — 6+ feet from a south or west window is ideal.
  4. 4Wipe leaves monthly with a damp cloth to remove dust and improve photosynthesis.
  5. 5Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g. 10-10-10) monthly during spring and summer only.
Pro tip: Yellow leaves = overwatering. Brown crispy tips = low humidity or underwatering. Diagnose before adjusting.

ORCHID

Phalaenopsis · moth orchid

OrchidIntermediate
2–3 mo
Bloom time
Bi-weekly
Watering
Indirect
Light need
  1. 1Water once every other week with lukewarm water
  2. 2Place in bright, indirect light — east or west-facing windowsill is perfect. Direct sun burns the leaves.
  3. 3Keep at 65–80°F during day, slightly cooler at night to encourage reblooming.
  4. 4After blooms drop, cut the spike just above the second node — it may produce a secondary spike.
  5. 5Feed with orchid fertilizer at ¼ strength every other watering when in active growth.
Pro tip: Healthy roots = silver-green or bright green. White/gray = thirsty. Dark soggy = overwatered.

SUCCULENTS

Echeveria, sedum, aloe, haworthia

SucculentVery Easy
Years
Lifespan
Bi-weekly
Watering
Full sun
Light need
  1. 1Water deeply but infrequently — soak soil thoroughly, then let dry completely before watering again (usually 2–3 weeks).
  2. 2When succulents are indoors it's often hard for them to get enough sunlight, You'll want to keep your plants as close to the window as you can, but be careful not to let them get sunburned.
  3. 3Place in your brightest spot — ideally 6+ hours of direct sunlight. South-facing windowsill is ideal.
  4. 4Fertilize once in spring with diluted succulent fertilizer. Skip the rest of the year.
Pro tip: A stretching, leggy succulent wants more light. Move it to a sunnier spot immediately.

PEACE LILY

Spathiphyllum · top indoor plant

PlantEasyAir Purifier
3–5 yrs
Lifespan
Weekly
Watering
Low–Med
Light need
  1. 1Water when the top inch of soil is dry — peace lilies droop slightly when thirsty. Don't wait until they collapse.
  2. 2Thrives in low to medium indirect light — one of the few flowering plants that tolerates dim rooms.
  3. 3Keep above 60°F and away from cold drafts. Brown leaf tips = cold or low humidity.
  4. 4Mist leaves or place on a pebble tray with water to increase humidity in dry winters.
  5. 5Deadhead spent white spathes to encourage reblooming. Fertilize lightly in spring and summer.
Pro tip: Toxic to cats and dogs — keep on high shelves. Excellent bedroom air purifier.

LUCKY BAMBOO

Dracaena sanderiana · water or soil

PlantVery EasyFeng Shui
Years
Lifespan
2 weeks
Water change
Indirect
Light need
  1. 1Keep at least 1–2 inches of water covering the roots at all times if growing in water.
  2. 2Use filtered or distilled water — very sensitive to chlorine and fluoride. Brown tips? Switch water first.
  3. 3Change the water completely every 2 weeks. Rinse pebbles or stones at the same time.
  4. 4Place in bright, indirect light. Direct sun scorches and yellows the stalks.
  5. 5Add a single drop of liquid fertilizer every 2 months. Over-feeding is the most common mistake.
Pro tip: Yellow stalk = too much sun or over-fertilizing. Remove yellowed stalks immediately — they spread to healthy ones.

BROMELIAD

Guzmania, neoregelia, vriesea

PlantEasyLong-Blooming
2–3 mo
Bloom time
Cup fill
Water method
Bright
Light need
  1. 1Water into the central cup (tank) formed by the leaves — not the soil. Bromeliads absorb water and nutrients this way.
  2. 2Flush the cup completely with fresh water every 2–3 weeks to prevent stagnation and mosquito breeding.
  3. 3Keep soil barely moist — water soil only once a month. The cup provides most hydration.
  4. 4Place in bright, indirect light. They grow naturally under forest canopies.
  5. 5After bloom dies, the mother plant produces "pups" — separate and grow as new plants.
Pro tip: The colorful "flower" is a bract. Once it fades, the plant won't rebloom — but the pups will.

AZALEA

Rhododendron · indoor flowering shrub

PlantIntermediateSeasonal Bloom
Weeks
Bloom time
Frequent
Watering
Bright
Light need
  1. 1Keep root ball consistently moist — azaleas hate drying out. Water every 2–3 days when blooming.
  2. 2Use rainwater or distilled water — sensitive to tap water alkalinity. Use acid-adjusted water when possible.
  3. 3Keep in a cool bright spot (55–65°F) during blooming. Heat shortens bloom time significantly.
  4. 4After blooming, move outdoors to a sheltered shady spot — Marin's mild climate is perfect for recharging.
  5. 5Feed with acid-formula fertilizer (azalea/camellia type) after blooms fade. Never fertilize in bloom.
Pro tip: Toxic to cats and dogs. Deadhead spent flowers promptly — it channels energy into next season's buds.

THE GOLDEN
RULES.

Universal truths that apply to almost every plant and arrangement — the habits that separate flowers that last 5 days from flowers that last 14.

Shop Fresh Flowers
01 Re-cut stems at 45° every 2–3 days under running water
02 Change vase water every 2–3 days — never let it go cloudy
03 Start with a spotlessly clean vase. Bacteria = early death
04 Keep away from ripening fruit — ethylene gas wilts flowers
05 No direct sun, no heat vents, no cold drafts
06 Refrigerate cut flowers overnight to add days of life
07 Remove wilted blooms before they contaminate the rest
08 Use flower food — it's not optional, it works
FAQ

COMMON
QUESTIONS

Everything Marin County flower lovers ask us most — answered straight by our florists.

Call Our Florists

With proper care, most cut arrangements last 5-7 days. Tropicals like birds of paradise and bromeliads can last 7-10 days. The biggest variable is water freshness — change it every 2–3 days and re-trim stems each time.

Completely normal. Stems partially dry during transport. Re-cut at 45°, place in warm water with flower food, set in a cool room. Most flowers perk up within 2–4 hours. If not, contact us — we'll make it right.

No — tropical plants (orchids, peace lilies, bromeliads, lucky bamboo) are damaged by refrigerator temperatures. Only refrigerate temperate cut flowers like roses and tulips. Keep all tropicals above 60°F.

Three most common causes: (1) tap water fluoride — switch to filtered water; (2) low humidity — mist leaves or use a pebble tray; (3) cold drafts from windows or AC. Move the plant away from cold air first.

Yellow stalks = too much direct sun, over-fertilizing, or chlorinated tap water. Switch to filtered water, move to indirect light, stop fertilizing for 2 months. Remove any fully yellow stalk immediately.

Yes! We deliver throughout San Rafael and Marin County daily. Same-day delivery for orders before noon. Visit rafaelflorist.com or call us to arrange delivery.

READY FOR
FRESH FLOWERS?

Now that you know how to keep them alive, let us craft something beautiful for you. Same-day delivery across Marin County.

Shop Arrangements Call Us
San Rafael, CA 94901
Mon–Fri 9am–4pm · Sat 10am–3pm
info@rafaelflorist.com