Nothing says Christmas like a beautiful festive bouquet, as they're the perfect way to instantly brighten up any room. 

Whether you've been given an arrangement as a gift or you've just picked them up as a little treat for yourself, festive flowers are a thoughtful touch - and there are so many bouquets in the shops right now to choose from. 

But there's nothing worse than your fresh flowers wilting or dying after just a couple of days - it feels like a waste of money, and it can be hard to understand what went wrong. 

However, one expert has now lifted the lid on how to make your festive flowers last all the way until Christmas Day, and it couldn't be easier to do. 

Samantha Walker, floral product developer at M&S, has explained how to keep your blooms fresh for as long as possible with her expert advice. 

She says there's a very important step that you should never forget to do when you bring your bouquet of fresh flowers home from the shop this Christmas. 

Cutting the stems in a certain way before you place them in a vase of water can work wonders for their longevity, according to the pro. 

Samantha highlighted: "When you first receive your bouquet, it’s vital you trim the stems to increase hydration.  

"Aim for a 45-degree angle to maximise surface area and encourage the stems to take in water. Cutting stems horizontally can also encourage them to sit flat on the bottom of the vase, which hinders water absorption."

As well as this, placement is everything - and there are a few areas in the home that you should avoid if you want to make your fresh flowers last until Christmas. 

One place you should never put your bouquet is near any fruit. Samantha said: "Some fruits give off gases which can speed up the aging process of flowers.

"Therefore, if you want to maximise the longevity of your arrangement, it’s a bad idea to position your flowers directly next to the fruit bowl. The most notorious culprits are tomatoes, apples, bananas and pears."

Interestingly, the temperature of the water that you put your flowers in can also have an impact on how long they last. 

Samantha urged people to never use freezing cold water from the tap, but this can shock the stems of your flowers and cause them to wilt. 

She said: "Instead, fill your vase with lukewarm water to help the flowers absorb water and open up."