How to keep flowers in a vase longer

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Prolonging the life of cut flowers is not so difficult - just follow some simple tips.

123RF / zamuruev

Bouquet preparation

Choose a vase according to the size of the bouquet so that the stems of the flowers are not pressed against each other. It is better not to fill the vase from the tap, but to use settled or filtered warm water.

For all colors, follow the main rule: before placing the bouquet in the vase, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and the roses also have thorns to avoid rotting in the water.

For flowers with a hard stem (roses, chrysanthemums), make an oblique cut with a sharp knife to increase the area of moisture absorption. This procedure must be done under water so that air bubbles do not clog the vessels of plant tissue. Do not use scissors for this so as not to flatten the capillaries. Split the stem into three to four centimeters and put a piece of a match in the split - this will increase the absorption of moisture even more.

For flowers with a hollow stem (dahlias, lupins), pour water into the stem, and plug the hole with cotton wool or a piece of gauze. Remove all leaves from the branches of shrubs (lilac, jasmine) and split the tip of the trunk.

A flower that secretes milky juice must be cut under water, since in the air it immediately hardens, clogging up the vessels. To stop the release of juice, the end of the stem must be dipped in boiling water for a couple of seconds or burned over a fire.

For soft-stemmed plants (tulips, daffodils, calla lilies, gladioli), cut the bottom of the stem or make several vertical scratches on it with a needle. Treat the cuts of calla lilies and gerberas with salt, and dip the stems of carnations in alcohol for a few seconds.

123RF / Nelli Syrotynska

Disinfection and feeding

Flowers in a vase are most affected by the rapid development of bacteria in the water. Various disinfection methods slow down this process. Put pieces of charcoal in the water, a silver coin, as was done in the old days, or add washing powder at the tip of a knife. For the same purpose, you can slightly salt water in a vase with flowers (one teaspoon of table salt per liter of water).

To kill microorganisms, add aspirin or streptocide (one tablet per six liters of water), sugar and vinegar (one tablespoon per liter of water), boric acid (0.1 gram per liter of water), soda quenched with lemon juice (not more than one tablespoon per liter of water), potassium permanganate (on the tip of a knife). All these products contribute to the destruction of microorganisms in the water, prevent the decay process and allow the living flowers not to fade for a long time.

Sugar is commonly used to feed the flowers in the vase. This is especially helpful for tulips, carnations, daffodils. Roses and chrysanthemums respond positively to aspirin, while dahlias are good at adding a little vinegar to the water. But aster feels much better in a weak alcohol solution (one teaspoon of alcohol per liter of water).

In addition, flower shops sell special additives to prolong the life of flowers. They already contain all the necessary disinfectants and nutrients.

123RF / Konstantin Malkov

How to place the bouquet?

Flowers should be kept in a bright room, avoiding direct sunlight. It is also undesirable for drafts in the room. Indoor temperature also plays an important role: in cooler climates, flowers last better.

Roses, carnations, orchids, lilies, daffodils, poppies, lilies of the valley should be placed in vases separately from other flowers, then they will last longer. Twigs of geranium, thuja, woodruff, on the contrary, help keep flowers fresh.

Do not place the vase near the place where the fruit is stored: the fruit emits ethylene gas, which accelerates the decay process.

For flowers to last longer

To prolong the life of the bouquet, change the water regularly, rinse the walls of the vase and rinse the stems of the flowers. After removing the bouquet from the vase, trim the stems by an inch, holding them under running water, and only then put them back in fresh water. To keep the greens of the flowers fresh, spray them from time to time with a spray bottle.

To help new buds open faster, periodically remove old dried flowers. The flowering process can be greatly accelerated by adding a little vodka to the vase.

If several flowers in a bouquet began to fade earlier than others, select fresh ones, rinse, cut and place in another container. Plants with signs of wilting are immersed in water up to the flower itself.

There is also an emergency method for helping flowers: dip the stems in boiling water for a few seconds. Hot water will expand capillaries and activate vital processes.