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Long lasting fresh flowers are the best kind of flowers and something we all desire. A few tips can go a long way to help you select the right kind of flowers and then keep them alive, healthy and ensure their longevity.
While buying flowers, shop the same way, as you would choose vegetables: fresh, colorful and crisp looking flowers are the healthy ones and will surely last longer. Avoid plants and flowers that look damaged, wilted, translucent or have any brown or unnatural spots on them.
Lots of buds in the bouquet also ensure longevity. But remember to remove the faded blooms when new buds open.
For flowers and flower arrangements to stay fresh longer, the life of the flowers needs to be supported by ensuring adequate water supply to the petals. Often the xylem (water carrying apparatus of the plant) is blocked by air bubbles or fungal growth. This obstructs the flow of water and reduces its life span. To prevent this, you need to take a few precautions and follow a few procedures.
When you immerse flowers in water for the first time remember to cut the tips of stems with a sharp blade at an angle. This ensures that water supply reaches the flowers properly. Cutting the tips off of flower stems every couple of days also ensure that flowers stay fresh longer.
A teaspoon of bleach or a cup of soda water in the vase of water where the flowers are put helps to keep the water clean and flowers healthy. Bleach also helps to prevent bacteria growth.
Add water to the vase everyday to ensure adequate water supply. Change the water every few days to discourage bacteria.
Flower arrangements stay longer when some solutions are added to the water. These solutions are called holding solutions . One of these is adding one-fourth cup of lime soda to a cup of water. Add to this two crushed aspirins and a tablespoon of sugar dissolved in warm water.
You can also maintain the freshness and moisture of flower petals and give them a shiny appearance . Mix one-fourth cup of floor polish in a gallon of water. Soak the flowers in this solution overnight but remember to keep their stems intact. The next morning cut the stem at an angle and place it immediately in water.
Do not keep flowers near overripe fruits or in hot places . When not in display keep flowers in cool places, as they tend to transpire more and lose their freshness in hot areas.
Resources Information on edible flowers This resource provides information on edible flowers. Information on scientific names of flowers This resource provides information on scientific names of flowers.
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