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Connie's
Corner
June 27, 2010
KEEP YOUR FRESH FLOWERS FRESH!
It’s such a delight to receive fresh
flowers and it’s so sad to watch them fade. Fading or wilting
is a natural process of course, but here are a few tips for
keeping them fresh longer.
#1 CHANGE THE WATER in your flowers every
2 days, don’t just top it off. This is the single most
important thing you can do to keep your flowers fresh.
#2 Keep your cut flowers away from air
conditioning vents, out of direct sunlight, and move them to a
cool location at night.
#3 Keep your flowers away from fruit!
Fruit releases a gas that will cause your flowers to wilt.
Have you ever wondered why your roses
wilted so fast? While storage issues may come into play, air
bubbles and bacteria are probably to blame. To prevent air
bubbles, cut the rose stem while holding it under water. Water
will cling to the stem and prevent air bubbles from clogging the
end. Always use a sharp knife, and serrated blades are a “no
no”.
You can also use a packet of “floral
fresh”. These packets contain a Biocide, acidifier and sugar.
Biocides kill bacteria, yeasts and fungi that seep into the
water from the cut flowers. These bacteria will clog the flower
stem and prevent water from moving up the stem, resulting in a
wilted flower. The acidifier helps water move up the stem and
the sugar acts as flower food.
Here are a few hints for additives if don’t
have floral packets and have some fresh picked flowers:
1 qt water, 2 tbls. Fresh lemon juice,
1tbls. Sugar and half a tsp. of bleach
Or
2 oz Listerine per gal. of water
Both of these natural alternatives include
the three components of the “floral fresh”.
If you are picking from your own garden,
early in the morning is best, followed by late afternoon. Carry
a bucket of water with you and plunge the flowers immediately
into the water. You may notice that your flowers are also most
fragrant in the morning. Ever wonder why? Hmmmmm…that’s
another whole Connie’s Corner!
Cut your flowers just beyond bud stage, and
remove all leaves that will be under water.
One final tip from Sautter’s designer,
Holly. If you want your cut Hydrangeas to stay fresh , add Alum
to the water. Get it right off the grocery store shelf.
Connie
574.293.5584
connie@sautters.net
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