florists sell cut flowers and they also incorporate them in a large arrangement ordered for Hotel lobbies, banquets, conventions and weddings...my friend in the flower district of Manhattan(29th street between avenues 6,7,8 &9th) encapsulate the end of the spike immediately when cut in a plastic capsul with preservatives in it as described by the others in this thread...the trick is not to let the spike absorb air...they cut it underwater then encapsulate it