Make Your Flowers Last Longer

Just for your info, especially you Loretta, :)
...don't know about the 7-up though.. is there anything else?

from http://www.trustsgmall.com.sg/highlights3.asp#flowers

There is nothing more pleasing than having fresh flowers around the house. But whether they come from your own garden or a florist, flowers never seem to last as long as we would like. In this tropical heat, they perish even faster - even if you keep them in an air-conditioned room.

Instead of buying commercial plant preservatives, here are some simple steps you can do to preserve the life of your cut flowers:

- garden shears (or sharp kitchen scissors)
- 7-up (or lemon soda)
- bleach (the same stuff your mother uses for laundry and floors)
- pail
- vase, and of course
- fresh flowers

Fill a pail with warm water and stand the fresh flowers in it. Cut the stems in the water, at a slant, to maximize the stem area for nutrient and water intake. Cutting in water prevents air bubbles from forming. These bubbles block the absorption of nutrients. Make sure the stems are the right length for the vase you have chosen, and take care not to crush the stems. Now prepare your vase by filling it with warm water, 7-up and bleach in this proportion: 1 cup of warm water, 1 cup of 7-up and 1 teaspoon of bleach.


The 7-up contains sugar and salt that provide energy for the flowers, and the bleach prevents bacteria and decay. Remove any leaves below the water line - they will decay and reduce the life of your flowers. When placing your flowers, do not leave them in an area with direct sunlight - they do best away from sun. You should also not have vegetables and other fruit next to them - as these would produce ethylene, a gas that hastens ripening and ages flowers. Change your water at least every other day - if you can, recut the stems again as this will further prolong the life of your flowers. Any dead leaves or flowers should be trimmed off and discarded - as they also produce ethylene.
...click on 'permanent link' to read more...