Making Cut Flower Last
Whether you are cutting your own or buying from the florist or grocery store there are a few things you can do to help your cut flowers last.
1. Be clean
Use clean equipment such as a container free of residue or leftover soap. Also ensure garden shears, scissors or florist knife are also sanitary.
2. Remove below-water greenery
Remove any leaves that will be below the waterline. Leaves can rot in water causing bacteria to grow.
3. Right water temperature
The right temperature can help flowers last longer. Most flowers like room-temperature water. Bulbs such as tulips and daffodils keep best in cool or cold water. Whether you’re using cold or room-temperature water, fill the container and keep it three-quarters full.
4. Trim under water or immediately submerge
Wait to trim the flowers until you're ready to put them immediately into water. Some flowers, like roses can get air bubbles in their stems, blocking water uptake and causing premature wilting. Some people find it effective to cut stems in a bucket of water or under the tap.
5. How much to trim
Trim off at least an inch of the stem at a 45-degree angle (maximizing stem surface area access to water).
6. Maintain daily
Maintain your flowers every day by cleaning the container and freshening the water. Dirty water can lead to bacterial growth shortening the life of cut flowers.
7. Re-cut every 2-3 days
Re-cut your flower stems every two to three days to help them keep absorbing water,
8. Treat with care
Keep cut flowers away from harsh light, wind, heat or cold. Keep cut flowers away from fresh fruit as well due to ethylene gas emissions that speed up the wilting process.
9. Feed me!
Florists and supermarkets often include pre-packaged mixtures of all the essential preservatives that can help cut flowers last longer. They contain sugar to feed the flowers, acidifiers to control the pH and a biocide to manage bacterial growth. Some people make their own concoction, Google it!
10. Good enough for Caesars and flowers
Giving a little alcohol (few drops of vodka) to cut flowers can slow down their aging process. The alcohol in vodka disrupts flowers from producing ethylene gas, which causes both flowers and fruit to wilt.
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