|
|
The key is to keep the flowers drinking. A flower is a living thing and it has to be fed and watered just like we do. Flower arrangements are ready to maintain. Just make sure the foam is wet and stays wet. If your flowers come in a vase, check to make sure all the stems are in the water. If not, refill the vase and cut a little off the bottom of each stem.
Should you get a bunch of cut flowers that are not in water, pull off any leaves that would be under water — they’ll just rot and breed bacteria. Then cut off about an inch from the bottom of each stem and get them into water.
It’s best to use lukewarm water, just like your giving the baby a bath. It will make the flowers drink more quickly.
If your flowers come with a freshness packet, use it! It contains sugar to feed the flowers and chemicals to slow the growth of algae and bacteria. These bacteria not only make the water smell, they clog up the stems and reduce the water uptake. If you run out of the professional freshener, you can make your own. Just mix a teaspoon of bleach and a tablespoon of sugar in a gallon of water.
Some gardening experts suggest pouring a 12-ounce can of non-diet lemon-lime soda into a half gallon of water. The acid in the soft drink will slow bacteria growth and the sugar will feed the plant.
It’s best to change the water every day, but don’t go longer than every other day. Even if you use a freshener, bacteria will grow and you want to get rid of it. Refill the vase with warm water.
Cut flowers last longer when they are cool, do don’t put them any place that gets warm. That includes on a TV, near the stove, by a heating duct or in front of a window that gets direct sunlight. You should also keep your flowers away from the fruit bowl. You can’t see it, but that fruit gives off ethylene gas, which will make the flowers deteriorate more quickly.
Some flowers last longer than others; that’s only natural. The more delicate flowers in an arrangement will go first. As they do, pull them out and continue to enjoy the flowers that are heartier.
Published 11/02/07
|
|
Of course your Thanksgiving flower arrangement will last a couple of days. If you take a few extra steps, though, you can keep those flowers looking good for a week or more.
