Simple Steps To Make Cut Flowers Last Longer
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Your loved one brings you a delightful bouquet of flowers. They are a surprise and you want them to last as long as possible. In your mind you review some of the steps to take to enjoy their beauty a little longer.
You remember the Martha Stewart Show that discussed making the most of cut flowers. No problem for you, and you go about getting the prettiest vase in your sideboard.
that might be in or near the water. Better not let any leaves wilt and start decaying in the water to foul it up. With the angled cut, each stem will freely draw water to keep the flower heads nourished.You fill the vase with cold water. Last thing you want is to start by dehydrating the flowers with warm water and cause them to droop prematurely.
So far so good. You haven’t forgotten any of Martha’s advice yet.
The vase is over three quarters filled with crisp, clean and cool water. The real trick is adding two aspirin to the vase. They are the secret ingredient. Now you remember that you could have added the two aspirin to the empty vase and then added the cold water. You figure that as long as the aspirin are dissolved, it shouldn’t matter one way or the other. Besides, aspirin mix up easily anyway. Martha said that acid contained in the aspirin kills off bacteria present in the stems and blooms. This is the magic trick to making the cut blossoms last longer.
Before you ceremoniously arrange the flowers one by one for the prettiest display, you take your can of hair spray and give the underside of the blossoms and leaves a bit of a spritz. The just need a quick spray and that should do it. Each flower gets the treatment with the hair spray and another quick spritz for good measure.
Done with the preparation. Now for the reward of the flowers.
Each stem gets its special place in the vase. You step back and survey your handiwork. Quite a good job says your inner self. It’s a Good Thing!
Smiling with this happy grin on your face, you proudly carry the crystal vase and its lovely floral contents into the dining room. It replaces the fruit bowl that has been on display. What was it Martha said? Aah yes – never place cut flowers near fruit because the ethylene gas that ripening fruit gives off can most certainly wilt flowers quicker.
For now, the fruit bowl will just have to sit in the kitchen on a counter.
The flowers are there in colorful glory for everyone to enjoy with you. What a special surprise!The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I'll keep this in mind the next time I get flowers. Thanks.I don't get them like I used to. But my mother always had a bouquet on the table - think I can't remember a day when there weren't fresh flowers. I learned a great deal. She was so fervent about keeping her roses for a long time that she actually cut little thin rings to slip over the perfect rose to keep it from opening more.
I've never heard of the hair spray spritz before. Interesting idea. I'll give it a try. It's spring here so beautiful blooms are already or about to burst. Other means of killing off the bacteria is a touch of white vinegar or even bleach. I don't use bleach because it is bad for the environment but the vinegar works. Lemon juice also works and adds a nice aroma. I also like to change the water every few days. A good way to create a lovely display is to angle the stems around each other, almost as though twisting them or 'wringing their necks' because it helps to hold the display in place without crowding the vase. They last longer when they aren't crowded.Thanks for those additional tips. I've noticed that many bouquets now do have the twist effect. Pretty. Roses love getting water changed. I also heard that when you change rose water you should always nip off at an angle more of the stem. If you get a bullhead rose, a florist called it that, they are faulty to begin with and just do the droopy thing. They'll still dry. I have found that roses will dry nicely if left completely alone. Great for potpourri or displays when hotglued. The hairspray has to go on the bottom of the flowerhead.
It definitely is a good thing, and I like the style of this article. Lovely and warm.Yep to the good thing. Thanks for stopping by and giving the article a read. You're a staunch supporter and I am most appreciative of that support!
Thanks Old Gray Mare,
I am always interested in ways to prolong the freshiness of my cut flowers. They add so much to a room. I like the smell and glow they add. However, I have never heard of using hair spray. The next time I will certainly give my flowers a spray or two and I will let you know what happens.
As we approach the holidays, I will revisit your suggestions. Thanks so much for updating me on the latest techniques to keep your cut flowers around for a while.The spritz goes under the flower head and is a quick burst. I've done it with large shasta daisies and it worked like a charm. I have never found much to keep tulips longer and wonder if anyone has any suggestions. I just find if you nosegay them and keep the steps on the short side, they do not droop as drastically. They need lots of fresh water.
I agree they give scent, brightness, color, and a homey charm. I love cut flowers, especially certain types with the ordinary and lowly daisy as my all time favorite. Whenever we have flowers in bloom, starting with wild violets in spring, I'm picking flowers and making lovely bouquets. And when the lilacs are in bloom, I go crazy. The scent is heady and I love it for the short while that the flowers last.
I love this article. I have not heard of the hairspray either, but I will do that. Thanks for writing.Thanks so much Maxine. Thanks for reading and commenting. Give it a try.
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