|
Flowers
-- the perfect gift!
How to extend the life of your flowers:
 The
average life span of cut flowers is
only about a week.
The longevity can
vary depending on the type of flower. Chrysanthemums, carnations,
geraniums, and snapdragons can last up to two weeks.
Combining flower types can shorten the life of each. Daffodils secrete
an alkaloid sap that can be poisonous to other plants. Each flower
type decays at a different rate so mixing them exposes blooms to bacteria
from another's decomposing stalk.
 |
Use a Clean Vase
|
You can clean the vase with bleach. This kills any bacteria and algae in
the vase. If the vase is simply left to dry and then re-used, the bacteria
lives on and multiplies, reducing the life of your flowers. Also metal
containers can cause reactions with many flower preservatives, which can
lessen the effectiveness.
|
Re-cut the stems
under water |
Cut stems should be
placed in fresh lukewarm water immediately, to prevent air from rapidly
moving into the water-conducting tissues and plugging the cells.
This is why a cut
flower that has been out of water more than a few minutes should have a
small portion of the lower stem cut off so that water will move up freely
when it is returned to water. Cuts should be made under-water to assure no
air enters the stem, and at a 45 degree
angle with a sharp knife to enable the greatest
surface area for water absorption.
The angle also keeps
the stem from resting flat on the bottom of the vase, which could cut off
the water flow into the stem.
DO NOT
crush or "saw" the stems,
as this will inhibit the life of the flowers. The practice of
crushing or splitting of flower stems is not a good way of extending their
vase life. This method does not work, and actually damages the tiny
tube-like vessels in the stems, blocking the flow of water up to the flower
heads.
A process called
"hardening" can provide maximum water uptake. Place the freshly cut stem in
a container with 110° F (43.5° C) water and add a preservative to the water.
Place in a cool location for an hour or two. Maximum water uptake is
attained because water molecules move rapidly at 110° F (kinetic energy) and
quickly move up the stems. Flowers at cool temperatures lose less water. In
this one brief period while the water is cooling, freshly harvested stems,
leaves, and flowers take up almost as much water as in the balance of their
life.
|
Strip off
all leaves below the water level |
Remove
any leaves that may be submerged in the water from all flower stems. These
leaves, if allowed to remain,
breakdown and decay,
reducing the life and crispness of the flowers.
|
Add a floral
preservative to the water
|
Preservatives can be
purchased at any florist and will increase the length of time that the
flowers live.
If you don't have any
floral preservatives, place an aspirin or mouthwash in the water. The
aspirin prevents bacterial growth, which tends to block water conducting
tissues in the flower stems. The mouthwash not only has an antibacterial
agent but also provides sugar that the flowers can use for food.
Another option
is to add a touch of hydrogen peroxide to the water to kill the bacteria,
and add a little Sprite or 7Up.
There is also this
combination, a variation on the one above: 6 oz Sprite or 7UP, 18 oz water,
1/8 teaspoon of bleach.
|
Avoid direct
sunlight, heat and drafts. |
Keep flowers away from
heat and hot spots (radiators, air conditioning, direct heat, or television
sets). Flowers have high rates of respiration, making them
one of the most perishable of all agricultural crops, and when they are
exposed to heat, they respire at a greater rate than at lower temperatures.
The cooler the room or location they are displayed, the longer they will
last.
|
Keep the
bouquet away from ripening fruit and remove fading flowers. |
Perhaps one of the
biggest enemies of cut flowers is ethylene gas, which is given off by
ripening fruit and vegetables. It speeds up the dying process of many
flowers.
Flowers that die in
the bouquet not only look unsightly, but also give off small amounts of
ethylene gas.
|
Change the water
daily. |
Dirty water provides a perfect breeding ground for microscopic bacteria.
These bacteria attach themselves to the stem ends and block the flow of
water up to the flower heads. Change the vase water daily with
lukewarm water.
|
Mist the flowers |
Spraying the bouquet with a mist will
also help to keep it fresh.
| Tips on Specific flowers |
If your bouquet includes roses, you can pluck off a few of the
outer petals if they are discolored. These outer petals are called "guard"
petals and help protect the flower during shipping.
If your bouquet includes lilies, be careful of the stamens (the
long yellow parts inside the flower) — they can stain fabric. If a piece
of fabric does get stained, use clear tape to pick the stain up off the
fabric. Don't rub the stain.
|
