Fresh flower care and nutritional needs
When you order a fresh flower arrangement from your local or online florist, you will notice that they will include a package of flower preservative. This little bag contains everything your cut bouquet needs to stay fresher for longer. Of course, this bouquet does not always last as long as the blooms since you will need to change the water every few days. Here’s what you need to know about flower food and making your own.
Plants versus cut stems
Firstly, it is important to understand that your fresh flower bouquet will still need water and nutrients. Without it, they will wilt and die. When the flower is still attached to the plant, the roots will absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The stems will transport the nutrients to the flowers and leaves. Now that the flower is no longer attached to the plant, it is up to you to make it possible for the stem to absorb what it needs. To do this, simply dissolve flower food in the vase water and cut the stems of your bouquet at an angle.
Making flower food
If you find that the package you received with your fresh flower bouquet does not last you more than a few days, you can always make your own flower food to help prolong the life of the arrangement. These homemade mixtures are sometimes less effective than the specially formulated packages. However, it’s certainly better than simply placing your bouquet in fresh water without adding anything. There are a number of recipes online. Remember, you will need some source of sugar as well as something that will keep bacterial growth at bay.
Maintain the pH level
As briefly mentioned above, you will need to keep bacteria growth to a minimum and this is done by regulating the pH level of the vase water. It is also important to note that you do not need to fill your vase to the brim in order to keep your blooms happy. These cut stems will only absorb water from the base so excess water will only encourage bacterial growth. Similarly, make sure that you remove any lower leaves since bacteria loves to grow on them if they end up below the water line.
Commercial flower foods
If you are not all that confident in homemade flower foods, you can always buy larger quantities commercial flower food so that you always have it on hand whenever a fresh flower arrangement should arrive!
It is also worth testing out different recipes at home before choosing between commercial and homemade recipes. All you need to do is select a few vases and one identical flower for each vase. They should all be at the same stage of opening (partial buds are best). Add different ingredients to each vase and take note of how each flower reacts. This will help you determine which combination is best.