Floral expert Jill Slater shares these tips for proper care of cut flowers, which can last up to a week or longer if properly conditioned:
- All flowers need to be cut at a 45-degree angle in order expose as much surface area as possible for taking in water.
- All leaves should be removed from stems that will be under water. Foliage breeds bacteria and algae that kill a flower more quickly.
Stem Treatments
- Hollow-stemmed flowers like amaryllis, delphinium and lupine stay freshest when full of water. Wrap the ends with floral bowl tape to prevent curling; pour water directly into the stem, and then plug it with cotton balls.
- Woody-stemmed branches from flowering trees and shrubs such as lilac,dogwood, azalea , camellia, forsythia, quince and tulip magnolia need the ends of their stems split . Make a one-inch cut vertically at the end of the stem or if it's very thick, carefully crack/split the bottom of the stem with a hammer.
- To help delicate bulbs like tulips, hyacinth, daffodils and crocus last longer , cut off the thick white part at the bottom of their stems. This allows the flower to draw water more easily.
- Condition calla lilies and daffodils separately from other flowers. The clear sap that drips from the ends of their stems when first cut can actually kill other flowers. After setting them in water separately for about an hour, they'll be ready to mix with other flowers.
- Some flowers exude a milky substance from the end of their stems (Iceland poppy , euphorbia, hollyhock, poinsettia). To process these flowers correctly, dip their stems in boiling water for 15 seconds or sear the ends with a candle/match flame . Sealing the stem ends keeps the flowers from losing nutrients so they'll last longer .
- Immerse the blooms and stems of tropical flowers like ginger, anthurium and heliconia in a tub of lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes, and then cut the stems under water . Arrange them in a vase and mist them daily with water.
- Cut carnations and similar flowers in the area between the nodes on the stalk of the stem, which allows the flower to drink water more easily.
- Cut off the stamens of flowers with pollen like lilies with small scissors as soon as they appear or pull then off with a tissue. If the pollen gets on clothing , use tape to remove it rather than rubbing.
- Remove the thorns from roses with a thorn stripper or by rubbing the stem with a small pairing knife. Work from the top down and don't dig into the stem itself .
Flower Food Mixtures
- Mix a dash of bleach and one teaspoon of sugar in a gallon of lukewarm water to make an excellent flower food.
- A tablespoon of mouthwash in a gallon of lukewarm water also makes a good food for cut flowers.
- Floral researches suggest that the best solution is store-bought flower food.
Resources California Cut Flower Commission
California Cut Flower Commission
Watsonville, CA
USA
Phone: 831-728-7333
E-mail:
ccfc@ccfc.org
Website:
www.ccfc.org
Guests Jill Slater
Floral Designer
California Cut Flower Commission and the Flower Promotion Organization
Atherton, CA
E-mail:
jslater@pacbell.net or
E-mail:
sjsslater@yahoo.com
Also in this Episode
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