Meet Mrs. Martha Greene
Questions for Aunt Milly Answered
03/09/10
Posted by: martha
Aunt Milly answers:
Who doesn't enjoy a beautiful boquet fresh from the garden? It only takes a little time and effort to have lovely, lasting flowers.
The best time to cut flowers is early in the morning (preferred) or very late in the afternoon when it has cooled. Morning is when the plant has stored food and the flowers are most fragrant and by late afternoon the sun has dehydrated the plant. Make a clean cut using a sharp knife and place the flowers immediately into luke-warm, not cold, water-the exception is bulb flowers, they like cold water.
To prevent air bubble blocks common to roses, make a new stem-end cut while holding it in water. Use a plastic pail rather than a metal one because metal can affect the pH of the water. Always cut flowers on a slant-it exposes more surface area. Remove leaves that will be under water in the vase but do not remove thorns from roses as it can shorten their life.
It is also important to cut flowers at their appropriate stages for best life. Cut roses, irises, daffodils and gladiolas in bud stage. Flowers with multiple buds on each stem should have at least one bud showing color and one bud starting to open before being cut. If cut while still tightly budded, these flowers will not open. Flowers that grow on individual stems (such as Marigolds, delphiniums, asters, calendulas, chrysanthemums, dahlias, gerbera daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias) should be cut when fully open.
Other tips to keep your flowers fresh longer: Completely change the water every 2 days. Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night. Place daffodils in their own vase as they give off a compound that is toxic to other flowers. Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age faster.
Who doesn't enjoy a beautiful boquet fresh from the garden? It only takes a little time and effort to have lovely, lasting flowers.
The best time to cut flowers is early in the morning (preferred) or very late in the afternoon when it has cooled. Morning is when the plant has stored food and the flowers are most fragrant and by late afternoon the sun has dehydrated the plant. Make a clean cut using a sharp knife and place the flowers immediately into luke-warm, not cold, water-the exception is bulb flowers, they like cold water.
To prevent air bubble blocks common to roses, make a new stem-end cut while holding it in water. Use a plastic pail rather than a metal one because metal can affect the pH of the water. Always cut flowers on a slant-it exposes more surface area. Remove leaves that will be under water in the vase but do not remove thorns from roses as it can shorten their life.
It is also important to cut flowers at their appropriate stages for best life. Cut roses, irises, daffodils and gladiolas in bud stage. Flowers with multiple buds on each stem should have at least one bud showing color and one bud starting to open before being cut. If cut while still tightly budded, these flowers will not open. Flowers that grow on individual stems (such as Marigolds, delphiniums, asters, calendulas, chrysanthemums, dahlias, gerbera daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias) should be cut when fully open.
Other tips to keep your flowers fresh longer: Completely change the water every 2 days. Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night. Place daffodils in their own vase as they give off a compound that is toxic to other flowers. Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age faster.