What Can I Add to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer?

rnewste · February 14, 2009

Dear Wife surprised me today with a dozen red roses for Valentine's Day (Yeah, Right!).

What can I add to the water (other than crushing up a Viagra pill) to make the roses last longer?

Ray

Zana · February 14, 2009

Roses should be cut with a sharp knife on a slant to expose more area with which to suck up the water. Never use scissors to cut them before putting into a vase. Water should be luke warm to warm. Best results if rose end is cut under warm water and then placed immediately into the vase of warm water. Within 30 seconds of being cut, the capiliaries (sp?) close up and the rose will not suck up any water. Change the water each day with warm water. You can put a bit of bleach in the water to keep any bacteria down. If you notice any wilting, then recut the bottom of the roses on a slant again. This is what I learned from a champion rose grower when I was living in the UK. Hope that helps. Enjoy the roses!

ps - Oh yeah, keep them out of direct sunlight or drafts.

rnewste · February 14, 2009

Zana,

Thanks very much for the instructions. I never would have thought of using a knife instead of scissors!

I have heard of putting an aspirin into the water also. Do you recommend that?

Ray

Zana · February 14, 2009

I have done that too. Even tried a side by side comparison with 2 vases of roses. One with aspirin and one without...not much difference. More of a difference though from how it was cut or with cold vs warm water. Being moi, I had to to the comparisons after my friend told me about it, just to see the differences. I'm sold on the warm water and knife slicing. LOL

Sherry_AK · February 14, 2009

I've used this one before, with bleach, etc. (Except instead of sugar and lemon/lime juice, I've used regular sugary lemon-lime soda.)

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/desig...cutflower.html

rnewste · February 14, 2009

Thanks Sherry,

The home-made mix in the Article was exactly what I was looking for:

Homemade Flower Preservative

Home mixes can be as effective as commercial preservatives. This easy-to-make recipe is my favorite.
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon household bleach
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
1 quart lukewarm water

Ray

February 14, 2009	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	What Can I Add to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer? Dear Wife surprised me today with a dozen red roses for Valentine's Day (Yeah, Right!). What can I add to the water (other than crushing up a Viagra pill) to make the roses last longer? Ray

February 14, 2009	#2
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	Roses should be cut with a sharp knife on a slant to expose more area with which to suck up the water. Never use scissors to cut them before putting into a vase. Water should be luke warm to warm. Best results if rose end is cut under warm water and then placed immediately into the vase of warm water. Within 30 seconds of being cut, the capiliaries (sp?) close up and the rose will not suck up any water. Change the water each day with warm water. You can put a bit of bleach in the water to keep any bacteria down. If you notice any wilting, then recut the bottom of the roses on a slant again. This is what I learned from a champion rose grower when I was living in the UK. Hope that helps. Enjoy the roses! ps - Oh yeah, keep them out of direct sunlight or drafts.

February 14, 2009	#5
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	I've used this one before, with bleach, etc. (Except instead of sugar and lemon/lime juice, I've used regular sugary lemon-lime soda.) http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/desig...cutflower.html