Tips to keep valentine bouquets fresh longer
Bouquets of cut flowers are always appreciated, but especially on Valentine's Day. This year, keep them looking fresh and beautiful as long as possible. Here are some tips:
Start with a clean vase. Washing with soap and water should be enough, but cleaning with a bleach and water solution - 1:10 bleach to water - is even more effective.
Water from the faucet is fine to use for most cut flowers. Filtered water, if available, may be even better. More important than the source of water is the temperature. Water at room temperature is best for all cut flowers except for flowers that bloom from bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips. These will stay fresher longer in cool water.
Most bouquets come with a small package of floral preservative. The preservative contains sugar, citric acid and an antibacterial agent. These ingredients feed the flowers, adjust the pH of the water, help stems take up water more efficiently, and reduce bacteria in the water. Instead of dumping the entire package in the vase, save some to use when the water is changed.
Remove any foliage toward the bottom of stems that will be submerged in water. Leaves under water rot quickly. The bacteria that results infect flower stems and reduce their vase life.
Get flowers in water as soon as possible, but after their stems have been cut. Stems out of water draw up air that can block food and water. Freshly cut stems are able to draw up water and nutrients for the flowers.
Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut at least an inch from the bottom of stems. Cuts should be made at an angle to give the tips of stems more surface area, enabling them to draw up more water. Arrange the flowers first, remove the entire bouquet, cut the stems quickly, and place the bouquet back in the vase.
Display flowers in a cool room out of direct sunlight and drafts caused by heater vents, ceiling fans and entry doors. Flowers last even longer when put in the refrigerator at night, but don't put them in the fridge with fruit. Some fruit gives off ethylene gas that causes flowers to age faster.
Some experts recommend changing the water every day. Others believe changing the water every three days is often enough. Whenever the water is changed, add a little more preservative and trim the stems again so they will continue to absorb as much water as possible.
There has been much written about homemade concoctions that help keep flowers fresh. Several groups have tested many of these theories - aspirin, vodka, a penny, Sprite, and apple cider vinegar and sugar. Results of these tests vary, but only the apple cider vinegar and sugar combination was moderately effective. Stick with the packaged preservative provided by the florist.
Follow these tips and keep bouquets from your valentine blooming brilliantly.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager of The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit online at planterspalette.com. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.