How Do You Prolong The Life Of Fresh-Cut Flowers?
When a flower is cut away from its plant, it no longer receives the nourishment it needs to grow. Floral preservatives provide that nourishment in the form of chemicals that kill bacteria, yeasts and fungi; an acid that helps water move up the stem; and sugar, which feeds the flower. The old wives’ tale of adding a penny and an aspirin works because the copper acts as a fungicide and the aspirin adds acid. Scrub, clean and thoroughly rinse a flower vase before using it. Fill the flower vase halfway with warm water (110 degrees). However, if you’re working with bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths or tulips, use cool water. Add a floral preservative. Dr. Robert Black, a consumer horticultural specialist, recommends floral preservatives such as Floralife, Petalife, Morlife, Roselife or Everbloom. You can also make your own floral preservative by mixing one quart of water with ½ tsp. bleach, 1 tbsp. sugar and 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice. Remove all leaves that will be below the water
