Cosmopolitans, roses and long-lasting cut flowers
One of the comments I love to hear most at Laura Jane's is, "Your fresh cut flowers last so long!". Let's face it, flowers cost money and you want to make sure your purchase lasts as long as possible. There are several "home remedies" that I have heard over the years claiming to prolong the life of fresh cut flowers. Some work. Some don't. And one may surprise you. First, let's talk about what we do here at the shop.
We receive most of our flowers through flower farms. They come to us, shortly after being cut. This means that you receive them early in their life cycle- but time is ticking as soon as they are cut. When our shipments arrive it is time to get busy! The flowers have not had a drink in a while and they are thirsty. We process our flowers quickly, adding bleach to the water, removing lower leaves and giving them a sharp angled cut. We then dip the stems in a solution that helps the flowers take a good long drink. After the flowers drink for 24 hrs., we place them in a specialized cooler, custom built and controlled by a device which optimizes the temperature and humidity. We recently conducted an experiment in which a container of mums lasted 5 weeks. We eventually threw them out because we needed the bucket!
Now, here's what you should do at home after bringing fresh cuts home.
1. Add a SMALL amount of bleach to the water.
Bleach kills bacteria which can build up in the water. Mostly due to the leaves. Which leads me to...
2. Remove any and all leaves that may reach the water line. We make every effort to do this as we process the flowers, but if you are purchasing cut flowers, your vase and cut will be different than our.
3. A fresh cut on all stems. A flower takes in water through its stem. If that stem becomes clogged, no water gets through. One of the best ways to add to the life of your fresh cuts is to cut the stems- when you get them and a couple of days after. Cut the stems at an angle as well. A flat stem end will sit at the bottom of the vase. One cut on an angle will have more surface area exposed, hence it will drink better.
Now for the old wives tales. Many will tell you to add the following to the water in your flowers container- Can you guess which one will help?
A penny?
Some vodka?
A bit of sugar or a dash of Sprite?
An aspirin?
Actually two of them will. A pinch of sugar or a splash of Sprite or 7-Up will help to give energy to the flower (not too much though- remember that sugar can encourage bacterial growth). The most surprising additive to me was a dash of vodka. Go figure. According to John Dole, a horticulturalist at North Carolina University,
"Vodka is often claimed to help flowers due to antimicrobial properties, but the spirit also has a different effect. When you add a few drops of vodka to the water, it delays wilting by inhibiting the flower's production of ethylene, a ripening gas that plants emit."
Gives new meaning to giving your flowers a drink, right?
