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How to Keep Your Cut Flowers Fresh

posted by Annie B. Bond Jul 22, 2003 9:32 am
How to Keep Your Cut Flowers Fresh
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By Annie B. Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999).

Is a copper penny the right choice to keep cut flowers fresh? Or is the little packet of flower food? An aspirin? What water temperature is best? What is the trick that will triple the lifespan of cut flowers?

Often folk tips are based on good science. Learn about what works and what doesn’t, and why, to keep your cut flowers fresh, here:

Copper Penny, Aspirin, and Other Alternatives to Chemical Flower Food
The little packet of flower food are bactericides that kill the bacteria, yeasts, and fungi.

Here are tips of reaching this same goal without the chemicals:
* Copper is a fungicide and acts to preserve the water from too many yeasts and fungi.
* Aspirin is an acid and helps to kill bacteria overgrowth.
* Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar to 1 quart of water. The idea here is the same as with aspirin, since lemon juice and vinegar are acidic.

Other Guidelines To Keep Fresh Flowers Fresh
* Place cut flowers in cold water, not warm! Warm water dehydrates flowers.
* Placing cut flowers in the refrigerator for six hours before arranging them will triple their lifespan.
* Hot water–up to 110-200 F–is recommended to restore very wilted flowers (the hotter water is for the more wilted flowers).
* Except for when you are cooling flowers, when you want cold water to cover the stems of the flowers, there is no need to have the water go higher on the stems then six inches.
* Recut the stems every few days.
* Remove all leaves and foliage below the water line.

More on Household Hints (165 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3187 articles available)

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Better Basics for the Home

Simple solutions for less toxic living.buy now
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3 Comments       add a comment »
Sharon P.

flat lemonade is a good one my grandma has used this for years.. try it..

Katharine Welch

The copper penny is a new one for me - thanks for the advice.

shannon w.

aspirin, who knew? Annie, knew.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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