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Conditioning cut flowers
- By Linda Urbaniak
- Published 06/24/2009
- Agriculture
- Unrated
Fresh cut flowers from the garden are a joy in any room. Too often, though, the lovely flowers we pick fade all too quickly. Conditioning them can extend the cut life of our blossoms considerably.
Early in the morning, before the dew has left the grass is the best time to pick your flowers for the longest flower life. If the day hasn’t been too hot, you can also pick your bouquets at dusk. For best results, take water to the flowers in a tall container or bucket of lukewarm water. Remove all the foliage that will be under the water line in your arrangement and leave the flowers in deep water overnight.
When you are ready to arrange your posies, re-cut the stems under water to the desired length at a sharp angle. Be sure not to crush them. This facilitates their ability to take up water. For woody stems, split them at the ends for an inch or so. If the foliage seems dusty, swish it in a sink or a large bowl or water or shower it with a gentle nozzle.
It is important that the container you plan to use, as well as any supports that you may choose to use are scrupulously clean. Fill the container you will be using with lukewarm water. Remember that if the vessel is clear, the water level will be visible and will become part of the composition.
You can prolong the life of your work by using one teaspoon of laundry bleach plus one-half teaspoon sugar to one gallon of water and use this for your bouquets’ drink. A piece of copper or a penny in water that is to be used for tulips will help lengthen their life as will a tablespoon of vodka. Grasses do best if their stems are dipped into vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Zinnias need a complete change of water every day.
Some flowers benefit from radical treatments. Several need to have their stems seared over a hot fire or submerged for an inch or so in boiling water. Cut the stems so that they are ready to be arranged. After treatment they will need to be submerged in deep, cool water for several hours.
Chrysanthemums respond to boiling the first inch for two to three minutes then plunging into cold, deep water. Clematis need only a few seconds, then soak in water up to the blossom. Hydrangea need five minutes, then complete submersion, including the flowers, for several hours. Poppies last longer if picked just before the blossoms open, then seared over a hot flame for slightly less than a minute before their bath. Hellebores need the first inch of their stems placed for a few minutes in boiling water. Then, draw a pin along the length of the stem, making a fine groove and arrange in deep water.
Roses, once conditioned will last a long time. You can also hold back their blooms for up to a week. First, cut partly-opened blossoms in the early morning. To control the opening of the buds, cut the stems at a sharp slant and place them in a deep container of warm water. Wrap a plastic bag over the buds, and another over the container. Tie the bags closed and place in the refrigerator. Within the week, the night before you want your roses in bloom, remove from the refrigerator and remove the bags. Re-cut the stems and create your arrangement. Left at room temperature, they should be ready for enjoyment in full bloom by the next day.
For lasting enjoyment of the lovely cut flowers from your garden, try these easy solutions. You worked hard growing them and it would be a shame to have them fade away too quickly.
Early in the morning, before the dew has left the grass is the best time to pick your flowers for the longest flower life. If the day hasn’t been too hot, you can also pick your bouquets at dusk. For best results, take water to the flowers in a tall container or bucket of lukewarm water. Remove all the foliage that will be under the water line in your arrangement and leave the flowers in deep water overnight.
When you are ready to arrange your posies, re-cut the stems under water to the desired length at a sharp angle. Be sure not to crush them. This facilitates their ability to take up water. For woody stems, split them at the ends for an inch or so. If the foliage seems dusty, swish it in a sink or a large bowl or water or shower it with a gentle nozzle.
It is important that the container you plan to use, as well as any supports that you may choose to use are scrupulously clean. Fill the container you will be using with lukewarm water. Remember that if the vessel is clear, the water level will be visible and will become part of the composition.
You can prolong the life of your work by using one teaspoon of laundry bleach plus one-half teaspoon sugar to one gallon of water and use this for your bouquets’ drink. A piece of copper or a penny in water that is to be used for tulips will help lengthen their life as will a tablespoon of vodka. Grasses do best if their stems are dipped into vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Zinnias need a complete change of water every day.
Some flowers benefit from radical treatments. Several need to have their stems seared over a hot fire or submerged for an inch or so in boiling water. Cut the stems so that they are ready to be arranged. After treatment they will need to be submerged in deep, cool water for several hours.
Chrysanthemums respond to boiling the first inch for two to three minutes then plunging into cold, deep water. Clematis need only a few seconds, then soak in water up to the blossom. Hydrangea need five minutes, then complete submersion, including the flowers, for several hours. Poppies last longer if picked just before the blossoms open, then seared over a hot flame for slightly less than a minute before their bath. Hellebores need the first inch of their stems placed for a few minutes in boiling water. Then, draw a pin along the length of the stem, making a fine groove and arrange in deep water.
Roses, once conditioned will last a long time. You can also hold back their blooms for up to a week. First, cut partly-opened blossoms in the early morning. To control the opening of the buds, cut the stems at a sharp slant and place them in a deep container of warm water. Wrap a plastic bag over the buds, and another over the container. Tie the bags closed and place in the refrigerator. Within the week, the night before you want your roses in bloom, remove from the refrigerator and remove the bags. Re-cut the stems and create your arrangement. Left at room temperature, they should be ready for enjoyment in full bloom by the next day.
For lasting enjoyment of the lovely cut flowers from your garden, try these easy solutions. You worked hard growing them and it would be a shame to have them fade away too quickly.