keep them fresh...

Receive flowers for Valentines Day? Lucky you!

here's a few tips to keep them fresh longer....

As soon as you receive a bouquet of flowers

Use a sharp garden shears, knife or scissors to cut about one inch off of each stem at a 45-degree angle. The key word is sharp, try not crush the stems.

Use lukewarm water for the vase.

Remove any leaves and foliage from the stems that will be below the water. Decomposing leaves can contaminate the water.

Adding a preservative to the water is one way  to keep it bacteria-free, and to provide the cut flowers with enough nutrients to hold out a bit longer than they might otherwise.
or
A few  DIY  preservatives

Add a few tablespoons of sugar  The sugar acts as the plant's food, long after the root supply has been cut off.

Add a bit of bleach to the water.  about 1/4 tablespoon of bleach per quart of water is more than enough. If used in moderation, the bleach helps purify the water and kill bacteria.
or
Add an aspirin and a penny The aspirin lowers the water's pH level, warding off bacteria, and the penny serves as a fungicide.

Some gardening experts say you can pour a 12-ounce can of non-diet Sprite or 7-Up into a half gallon of water. The acid in the soft drink will slow bacteria growth and the sugar will feed the plant.

Change the water daily and ENJOY!


 FYI 
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.

Daffodils and tulips don’t always get along! two of my favorite flowers!!  a little secret from  gardening expert Mary Robson.. Daffodil sap is toxic to tulips.

 here's to a house always filled with fresh flowers

sue