Enjoying Flowers During The Summer
The warm weather is particularly tough on flowers. When temperatures fluctuate, as the do between air-conditioned rooms and the summer outdoors, flowers get stressed. Stress reduces vase life of fresh cut flowers. They also get stressed if they are given home made additives such as bleach water, aspirin, or penny-infused solutions rather than a commercially produced solution that has the acid, nutrients, and germicides the flowers so desperately need. Without the germicide, the flower stem gets plugged, preventing the bloom from drinking and sapping the buds of the energy needed to open and last in the vase.
Here are some tips to help get the most from your fresh bouquets.
1. make sure your vase is clean.
2. use cool water instead of warm and mix your preservative completely. if you do not have some, stop at our store and we would be happy to give you a complimentary package.
3. cut your bouquet stems on an angle using a sharp knife. dull knives or cutters smash stems or produce ragged cuts, intensifying the amount of cells released into the solution. this releases enzymes, carbohydrates and amino acids when cut and causes a feeding frenzy for bacteria.
4. keep your vase full. a bouquet of roses, chrysanthemums, dahlias and sunflowers can easily go through a vase of water on a hot day.
5 when you change your water, never combine an old solution with a new one.
6. keep your bouquet out of direct sunlight and other heat sources such as the TV.
7. if you are gone during the day and won't be home to enjoy them, move them into the refrigerator or a cool basement for the time you are gone.
Try these tips, but most of all, use your packet of solution. it really makes a difference!
next week we will discuss care for specific varieties!
see you then.
Charles
Chantilly Floral Boutique
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