How to extend the life of cut flowers?

Cut flowers are very elegant and add beauty to any room. When we get or buy cut flowers, we want them to stay fresh for as long as possible. Check out the best ways to extend the life of cut flowers.

Aspirin

Aspirin is good not only for a severe headache. It will keep your flowers happy for longer. Add half a crushed aspirin tablet to the flower water. They will stay fresh much longer

The right water temperature

Cut flowers should be placed in water at the right temperature. Pay attention to this, especially with delicate flowers such as roses and peonies. Pour cold water into the vase. Fresh flowers do not like warm water. They will wilt or even rot very quickly

Spraying water on the leaves of cut flowers

Few people know that regularly changing the water in a vase is not enough. To keep the flowers fresh and nice looking for a long time, it is advisable to spray the flower and leaves lightly with water. Plants take up water and the ingredients it contains not only through the stem but also through the leaves.

Keep them away from heat sources

Placing a vase of flowers near a radiator can cause the flowers to wilt quickly. Cut roses or nasturtiums like room temperature. Unfortunately, overheating them can lead to wilting.

Conditioners for cut flowers

When you receive flowers from the Post Office or someone brings you a bouquet from the store, you may find a small bag with a mysterious powder in it. This is a special flower conditioner that can effectively prolong the life of your plants. It contains minerals that plants need to live. Pour the contents of the bag into water and enjoy a wonderful bouquet for a long time.

>> See also: How can I keep supermarket basil fresh longer?

Don’t have a flower conditioner? You can add one teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of citric acid to them. The former is a source of nutrients, while the latter ensures the proper pH of the water. But remember to change your water often – sugar is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so change your water at least 3 times a week or more often. You can add nutrients or the above mentioned ingredients to it

Cut off the flower ends

When we cut flowers from the garden or buy them at the florist, we forget to cut the stems. It is best to make a small cut along it so that the flower can easily draw water in a dish.

Putting the stem ends in boiling water

This trick works great for roses. If you have cut the stem ends and made an incision along the stem, scald them for a while in hot water. In the case of roses this treatment can increase the patency of the stems. This method is also suitable for poppies and gazanias. These plants have milky sap in their stems. It is recommended to use a hot water treatment for roses, which will increase the durability of the bouquet.

Stem pricking

Apart from cutting and scalding stems, pricking them works very well. Especially tulips and gerberas should be pricked before placing them in a vase of water. This way you remove the so-called air plug that prevents the plant from taking up water

Removing unwanted leaves

The plant provides essential nutrients to every part of the plant, including the leaves. If you want beautifully blooming flowers, remove some of them. This way, cut flowers will keep you happy much longer

Arrange the bouquet so that the plants have enough space

Flowers should have plenty of room. Make sure to arrange your flowers properly so that all the stems and leaves have access to water so that they can take up nutrients. This will keep your cut flowers in a vase looking beautiful much longer.

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