Cut Flowers
 Cut
flowers fresh from the garden and arranged in a pretty vase brightens
a room and brings the beauty of nature indoors.
Picking
Flowers
When picking flowers from your garden, do so early in the morning or late
in the afternoon. Cool them quickly by placing them in a bucket of water
left in a cool place for an hour or so. This is especially important in
hot summer weather.
Preparing
Flowers
Most flowers absorb water best if cuts are made between nodes or joints.
This is certainly true of carnations and hydrangeas. Never crush the stems,
as the damaged tissue will not absorb water well, and the water will become
polluted. Sharp, clean cuts are best. Cut off a couple of inches of stem
with sharp shears and be sure to remove any leaves that would be below
the water level in the vase. Any left on the stem will rot quickly and
pollute the water.
Clean Vases
Make sure your vases are perfectly clean. The stains in vases are usually
bacteria that will get to work blocking the water uptake to the flower
stems. Stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning may be
removed by filling the vase with water and adding a few drops of household
bleach. Allow the vase to soak for a couple of hours then rinse well.
Clean
Water and Preservatives
Clean water is essential for cut flowers. You can change the water in
the vase daily or use a floral preservative. Check the vase often to see
if it needs filling. Some flowers with woody stems drink a lot of water,
especially in the first two or three days after cutting. |
