How flower preservatives help your flowers

These days, there are so many products and gimmicks on the market that it can be tough to figure out which ones are for real. Some items look great when they are advertised but they are not nearly as necessary as we may think. When buying fresh flowers, your florist will usually include a free package of floral preservative. Some may even try to market larger containers of preservative to use when you replace the vase water. Whether you purchase such products or you have been avoiding such purchases because you’re not sure if they are worthwhile, it’s good to know what flower preservatives are and how they work.

Firstly, take a moment to think about the function of the stem. It’s kind of like the veins in our bodies and it transports water and food to the flower. The vase water is absorbed by the base of the stem and it is then transported up to the flower head as well as any leaves that are still attached.

Now, think about the possible effects of contaminated water on your beautiful fresh flowers. If the water is not clean, your flowers will not last as long as they should. Bacteria is the most common enemy when it comes to water contaminants and it can seriously shorten the lifespan of cut flowers. Bacteria is everywhere which is why it should come as no surprise to hear that it’s also found on the stems of your flowers. Once placed in water, the bacteria can multiply that much faster and it will eventually clog the base of the stem.

The good news is that flower preservatives can help with this. These products are designed to dissolve quickly and easily in vase water. They provide the flowers with added nutrients while controling the pH level of the water. By making the water less pleasant for bacteria, it helps keep bacterial growth to a minimum and this is why florists agree that it’s a great way of helping your flowers last longer.

When adding a flower preservative to the vase water, it’s important that you follow the instructions. You need to add a certain amount of flower food to a certain amount of water or it will either be too strong or ineffective.

If you are looking for an alternative to the packages of flower preservative, you can try some homemade recipes. There are a few different recipes online and they all require just a few basic household ingredients. Again, these recipes should be mixed as directed and with sufficient vase water.