Ideally, you'll be able to cut the flowers you wish to arrange a day ahead of time, put them in warm water, and allow them to rest overnight, says show host Kim Haworth. Next, before you put any blooms in the water, you should clean the vase so it won't encourage bacteria. Next, fill it with water and add a floral preservative from the florist's (but don't be surprised if they're not all that happy to sell you some). You can also add a bit of lemon-lime soda to the water, the kind with sugar. It will add sugar for nutrition and acid to prevent bacteria growth. Last, before you start arranging, cut the stems to size -- but do so underwater, to prevent air from going up the stem.
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