A bouquet of flowers has always been and will always be a pleasant gift for March 8, a birthday, or a wedding. Having placed it in a vase, I want it to please us for as long as possible. But any living organism, including flowers, has its own life span, especially cut ones. Then how can you extend the life of flowers? The main rule: you need to be able to properly care for them. The techniques for restoring and maintaining freshness are not complicated, they are accessible to everyone. And this is what we will talk about today.
How to keep cut flowers longer
These general helpful tips should be followed no matter what kind of flowers you are given. With a little effort, flowers can last for days or even weeks. It only depends on you
- preparing the vase before putting flowers in it,
- appropriate storage temperature,
- processing of fresh cut flowers,
- bouquet care.
A vase for flowers
The vase where you are going to put the flowers must be clean. Despite the routine and simplicity of the advice, treat it with special care. Microbes entering the plant along with water significantly shorten their lifespan and gradually kill the flowers.
Therefore, before placing the bouquet in water, wash it thoroughly with liquid detergent and then rinse thoroughly.
Temperature
Flowers are very afraid of sudden temperature changes. Therefore, be careful when transferring flowers from a warm store to the cold outside, and then back to the warm home. Ask the seller to wrap the package in wrapping paper in winter. For many flowers, staying at a temperature of -2 -4ºС for 10-15 minutes has a detrimental effect.
Also, flowers do not tolerate prolonged heat and stuffiness, especially direct sunlight. In such conditions they will not survive even one day. Keep the bouquet away from sunlight and heating devices, and protect from drafts.
Absolutely all flowers love cold water, so before putting the flowers in a vase, we make a fresh cut of the stem and place it in the vase. The less you touch the flowers with your hands, the longer they will last. Because when you touch a flower, damage to the surface layer (dents) remains on it, through which moisture evaporates.
When you bring a bouquet home from the cold, do not rush to immediately put them in a vase with water. Wait 10-15 minutes, let the flowers get used to the different temperature.
Processing of cut flowers
First of all, remove all the leaves from the bottom of the stem and renew the cuts. Place the stems under running warm water and use a garden knife or pruning shears to make long oblique cuts. Thanks to the water, the air will not have time to penetrate into the vessels of the flower. The plant will then better absorb water, since purchased flowers are often dehydrated.
If you want to preserve flowers with woody stems, for example, jasmine, lilac, chrysanthemums, then first douse them with hot water. The oils contained in the woody structures of the stem will close the lumen of the vessels, through which bacteria will not penetrate. Salt is added to the water of such plants as a preservative, at the rate of 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water.
Caring for flowers in a vase
Change the water in the flower vase every day and add fresh water if necessary. Otherwise, spoiled water will quickly lead to withering. When changing the water, do not forget to also wash the vase. Periodically spray the flowers with water from a spray bottle.
But flowers are different, so their care will be different.
Secret 1. Correctly cut flowers for a bouquet
Yes, yes, you need to take care of the future bouquet already at the time of cutting it in the flower garden! What did you think - you ran out into the garden for a minute, plucked a couple of rose bushes and a stunningly beautiful bouquet was ready that would last a couple of weeks on its own? No matter how it is! And there are tricks in this matter - cutting time, technology, and tools. How and when to correctly cut flowers for a long-lived bouquet?
Firstly, be sure to choose healthy and strong flowers for cutting. Inspect the selected plants before cutting - their buds, stems and leaves should be strong, evenly colored, without withering, stains or damage.
Secondly, choose the time for the procedure. You can’t cut flowers either in the heat and sunshine, or in the rain. It is better to do this in the early morning, when there is still dew in some places, in the evening, when the sun sets and it becomes cooler, or during the day, but in cloudy, cool “gray” weather. This way you are guaranteed to retain more moisture (and, therefore, elasticity) in the stems, leaves and buds.
If possible, be sure to water the bushes and flowers that you plan to cut generously 12-24 hours before the procedure.
Thirdly, focus on the type of cut flowers - each has its own nuances. So, among the gladioli for cutting, those that have only one lower flower have opened yet; for roses and tulips - they look for stems with buds that have not yet blossomed, but are already colored; for chrysanthemums and asters - wait until the inflorescences open almost completely (3/4), for hydrangeas and dahlias - cut flowers in the full bloom phase, and so on.
Fourthly, you need to make cuts with a very sharp knife or pruning shears - breaking off and twisting stems and branches is not suitable for us, because there is a risk of severely “crushing” and damaging the moisture-conducting vessels of flowers, that is, those parts of the future bouquet through which it will “drink” in order to stay in the vase longer. Cut the stems at an angle.
Roses
When choosing roses, you should give preference to those with green sepals. The best time to buy roses is early in the morning; such roses are saturated with moisture and can last much longer than evening roses. Do not ask the seller to process the lower part of the stem; it is better to do it yourself at home. Simple rules will help you preserve roses longer.
- Roses purchased in cold weather should not be placed immediately in water. Place them on the table and leave for half an hour. Only then start processing them.
- The lower leaves that end up under water in the vase are removed to avoid rotting and deterioration of the composition of the water.
- We cut the stem with pruning shears in a basin of water or under running water. Each time we cut the stem diagonally so that water penetrates into the stem.
- If you want the flower buds to not wilt longer, shorten the stem to 30-40 cm. The closer to the bud the water is absorbed in the stem, the faster it will reach the bud and the longer the flower will not wither.
- The stem of the rose is immersed in water up to half its length.
How to keep a bouquet of roses in a vase longer
To preserve a bouquet of roses at home longer, not only the leaves are removed from the flowers, but it is advisable to cut off the thorns as well.
The stem must be trimmed in water, not under a running tap, but in a container filled with water. This is necessary so that all the vessels of the plant are immediately filled with water without air access, then it will last longer.
Make the cut long and oblique.
If the trunk is hard and woody, it would be good to split its end along a length of up to 5 cm.
You can place roses in cool water. In general, they like cool weather, and bloom better in May and September than in summer. A friend of mine even put bouquets of roses in the refrigerator for a while, prolonging their existence.
Roses, like other flowers, love sweet water, so add 30-40 grams of sugar per liter of water.
It is preferable to cut roses for a bouquet in your garden in the early morning or late evening. In this case, the flower buds must be fully or partially bloomed. Their lifespan in water also depends on this.
The Queen of Flowers not only doesn’t like being next to other types of plants, but even roses of contrasting colors do not get along well with each other; white and red roses in the same vase quickly wither.
You can try to revive fading flowers by completely immersing them in water, i.e. with stem and buds, for several hours.
I usually practice this dip in the bath every night without waiting for it to wilt, so the bouquet is guaranteed to last a week.
Here’s another interesting piece of advice I read: pour water into a plastic bag, shake it and cover the roses overnight. Droplets of water on the walls will create a greenhouse effect and revive even very wilted flowers.
Tulips
Tulips are another attribute of the women's holiday. The lifespan of a fresh tulip is short, only 3-5 days. But it can also last longer if you pay attention to the following points when purchasing.
- The bud should be large enough and well colored;
- The leaves are elastic, without damage and even green in color;
- Do not buy buds whose petals are secured with a rubber band. As soon as you bring them home and remove the clamp, the petals will fall off within a few hours;
- Also, do not buy tulips from cars on the street. On holidays, due to high demand, they are even sold on the street. Usually, tulips are sold on the street already frozen, since in March the temperature can still be below zero. When purchased, they look beautiful, but at home, in the warmth, they will quickly thaw, wilt and become like rags.
What do carnation flowers mean?
«Carnation
"translated from Greek
means
"divine flower".
An ancient legend connects the appearance of this flower with the goddess of hunting Artemis. carnations
grew from the shepherdess’s eyes , like innocently shed blood, reminiscent of the crime in their design. ...
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Folk remedies for preserving flowers
In order for the flowers to last as long as possible, follow the main condition. The water in the vase should always be fresh and cool. You can add biologically active substances to the water. Almost each of the listed products has disinfectant properties, which means that bacteria in the water will not be able to multiply, thereby extending the life of the flowers.
- Charcoal is better in powder form, it has a preservative effect. Crushed carbon can be replaced with 2 tablets of crushed activated carbon;
- Ammonia - add a few drops to the water, wait a couple of minutes before placing flowers in it;
- Aspirin – 1 tablet added to water will not only allow flowers to last longer, but will help maintain their fresh appearance;
- Fabric bleach . Many purchased plants are already so accustomed to household chemicals that they cannot exist without them for long. Therefore, a couple of drops of bleach added to the water will save the situation;
- Potassium permanganate – 2-3 crystals of potassium permanganate added to water disinfect the water and destroy microbes;
- Vodka – 2 tbsp. l. added to 1 liter of water, providing a disinfectant effect;
You should not use several options at the same time. This will damage the plants and speed up their wilting. Use one thing at a time.
It should be noted that there is no need to add sugar to water, as some online resources advise. The fact is that sugar in warm water leads to fermentation and accelerated proliferation of microbes that cause rotting. Experienced florists also do not recommend replacing water with sparkling mineral water.
How to preserve a mimosa bouquet well at home
As for mimosa, I don’t know the exact secrets of keeping it fluffy for a long time.
I read that the twig should first be immersed in very hot water for a short time, then the stem should be crushed and placed in a cool place in the water. Since mimosa does not like dry air, it needs to be sprayed more often.
But this can be done with a plant that has not yet fully blossomed.
And it’s better not to put a fully flowering branch in water at all; it will stay like that for longer than the time allotted to it.
Daily care
To maintain the freshness of the bouquet, you must regularly perform the following steps:
- It is better to change the water daily , while simultaneously washing the vase. Dirty water, in which microorganisms multiply with might and main, is not the best environment for flowers;
- direct rays of the sun, drafts, heaters and cold are not the only enemies of flowers. Place the vase away from vegetables and fruits , as they produce ethylene - a catalyst for ripening and aging;
- do not touch the flowers with your hands unless necessary, since each touch is a dent through which the moisture begins to correct itself more intensely;
- It is better to update the slice daily;
- You can periodically spray the flowers with water from a spray bottle .
Rules for caring for cut carnations
You can keep carnations fresh for a week or two without much effort, thanks to the natural durability of these flowers.
Flowers collected from your area should be kept in a place protected from sunlight. Heat and bright light will speed up the process of their withering. Carnations should be cut in the late evening or early morning. But in rainy or cloudy weather, this can also be done during the daytime.
To keep carnations in a vase for a long time, you need to cut off those flowers whose buds have not fully blossomed. The cut point of the clove should be located above the node on the stem, then moisture will flow into it unhindered. In this case, the cuts are made at an angle to increase the area of water absorption by the plant.
- While in a vase, the flowers should not squeeze each other: the stems are placed freely. Water should cover them by 10 - 15 cm.
- The lower part of the leaves is removed from the stem to prevent them from rotting in water.
- Every day, the cut areas are refreshed, shortening the stems by 1 cm. It is better to do this in water so that the air does not clog the capillaries. The vase is also washed and the water is replaced with fresh water.
- The buds are sprayed daily with clean water using a spray bottle.
- Before storing carnations at home, you should find a suitable room for them. The bouquet should be in a shaded place, far from heating devices. It is important to avoid drafts, which are as harmful to cut flowers as the sun's rays.
The presence of fruits and other flowers near carnations will cause them to wither quickly.
Professional secrets
The most popular flowers are roses, lilies and chrysanthemums. There are secrets to maintaining their freshness.
Rose in a vase
Like a true queen, the rose will not tolerate competitors. In compositions, the queen of flowers feels great in an oasis soaked in a special composition. If handled correctly, the rose will last for a month.
To better preserve a bouquet of roses under water, cut the plant stems to a third of their length and clean them of thorns, leaves and skin. It is advisable to add a purchased product to the water. Most of the roses were brought from abroad and are accustomed to chemicals.
There are also options for homemade preservative compositions for the queen of flowers:
- Twenty to thirty grams of sugar are diluted in a liter of water.
- For a couple of liters of water, take three small spoons of sugar and a couple of large spoons of vinegar. You can replace vinegar with citric acid crystals.
- Alum, camphor alcohol, glycerin, silver nitrate, and borax have an excellent effect on roses. All substances replace coal. They need to be taken in small quantities.
- If there are no suitable options, any silver object is lowered into the water.
To keep cut roses in a vase for a long time, after trimming the stems, you can drop one drop of white or dishwashing detergent into the water. Roses are not placed next to equipment, a TV, or a tape recorder.
At night, the bouquet is wrapped in paper, immersed in a bucket of water, and covered with paper on top. After this procedure, even withered plants come to life. After trimming the stems, you can put the flowers in water for a couple of hours and then put them in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, the roses will be fresher than those just purchased.
How to choose
A carnation at the wilting stage has a faded color and a drooping bud. Its stem becomes even more fragile and easily breaks in the places where the nodes are located.
To give a flower a marketable appearance, unscrupulous sellers connect the broken parts of the stem using toothpicks, needles, etc. Therefore, when purchasing, you must check the integrity of the stem of each flower. If a broken point is discovered, then you should refuse the purchase.
If a store offers to buy a ready-made bouquet, there is a high probability that among the fresh flowers there are hidden ones that have begun to fade. This method allows enterprising traders to get away with all substandard goods.
Note! To be sure of the freshness of the bouquet, you need the florist to collect it from the flowers chosen by the buyer.
Selecting and preparing a vase
The neck of the vase should not compress the stems of the flowers , so try to choose a container for the presented bouquet such that the circumference of the neck is approximately twice the circumference of all the stems.
The vase must be clean . It would seem that this is the basis of the basics, but many neglect it. A dirty vase contains millions of bacteria that will immediately begin to attack the flowers. Therefore, do not be lazy, wash the vase well with detergent, rinse thoroughly and dry.
Air and water temperature
You need to know that different varieties of flowers need a certain water temperature. For example, tulips love not just cold water, but ice water. But roses prefer water at room temperature. It is necessary to clarify the “tastes” of flowers before putting them in water. Air temperature also plays a big role. Do not place flowers in a place that is too hot. They definitely won't like it. And the sun is not the most ideal option for a bouquet. For example, if the bouquet is summer, then the ideal temperature conditions for it are within 18-20 degrees Celsius.
