Preservative for cut flowers in vase.

[Pete E. Kruzer]

Florists are damn stingy with those little packets of "preservative" they give you with cut flowers. What is that powder? And most important, is there a good preservative that you can make at home?

[Pete E. Kruzer]

Florists are damn stingy with those little packets of "preservative" they give you with cut flowers. What is that powder? And most important, is there a good preservative that you can make at home?

[Bill who putters]

[Nelly]

I don't know what's in that stuff, but I've put a few drops of bleach in the water and it does seem to help quite a bit.

[David E. Ross]

Start with a clean vase. Scrub away any crud that dried on from its last use. Then fill the vase with fresh water.

Cut the flowers early in the morning. Carry a bucket of water as you go through your garden, putting the cut stems into the water.

Fill your kitchen sink with about 3 inches of water. Working with one stem at a time, hold the cut end under water and remove another inch at an angle. Keep the fresh cut under water for at least 10 seconds. When you remove the stem from the sink, you should see a drop of water hanging from the cut. Immediately place the stem in the vase.

Every second day, remove the flowers from the vase. Change the water in the vase. Repeat the cutting in the kitchen sink, removing another inch of stem while it is under water.

This does NOT work with certain flowers. Dahlias and plants with milky sap need to have the cut ends of their stems singed. Use either a gas range or a large candle.

Of course, there are plants whose flowers just are not intended for cut bouquets. Among them are several varieties of florabunda roses (e.g., 'Iceberg').

[Thdaoub]

Aha, tthere're all detials, thanks a lot, I learn so much from you, and it's useful for me!

[Pete E. Kruzer]

Thanks for the chemistry site. Very interesting.

[songbird]

also if you are doing early spring flowers it is a good idea to keep the daffodils in a different vase for a day or two as the stems leach chemicals which shorten the vase life of other flowers... i'm not sure if recutting them leaches more or not.

songbird

[Bill who putters]

Some where buried about in books not frequently looked at I have a

1948 garden series much like the time life series from ~ 1972. Anyway one whole book dealt with Flower arrangements and preservation. The chapters deal with Japanese flower arrangements also deal with esthetics and info on doing the cuts some just cut some burnt. This is a wonderful art info book. I'll try to find the book which may be in my bedroom and give you the ISBN # but this was before ISNB #s. ;))) This will take time as I need help getting to it.