The Spruce
There are tons of tips and tricks out there on the internet, but whatreallyworks?
The Methods
We trawled the internet looking for popular methods ofkeeping bouquets freshand found several options.
We whittled down our list to the four methods that are searched for the most often.
The Spruce
Flower Food Packet
The packet you receive in your bouquet is not just there for show.
It is specifically designed to preserve the vitality of your flowers.
Flower food is made up of just three ingredients: citric acid, sugar, and bleach.
The Spruce
The citric acid lowers the pH of the water, which makes it more habitable for flowers.
Aspirin
Aspirin lowers the pH of the water, which can help flowers live longer.
We’re not exactly sure how or why this method became popular (prescriptions are expensive, people!)
The Results
After running the timelapse for one week, the results were clear.
Add it to your water to keep your flowers looking fresh all week long.
You don’t need the entire packet at once.
Use sharp, clean scissors to keep stems uncrushed and able to take in water.
Remove lower leaves and thorns so they are not submerged in water.
Keep the vase of fresh flowers in a cool room and away from drafts and scorching heat.
Adding table sugar to a vase may help flowers last longer, but it’s not that simple.
Sugar needs to be mixed with other ingredients to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
Cut flowers wilt because they do not take in water fast enough.
Vinegar or baking soda may not help with wilting.
To help wilted flowers, re-cut the stems and put them in a vase of warm water.
Refrigerate the vase for a couple of hours.
Then put the flowers in room-temperature water.
Sugar and Acidity in Preservative Solutions for Field-Grown Cut Flowers.
Center for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
How To Keep Cut Flowers Fresh.
How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh.Virginia State University Extension Master Gardeners.
