Jun 6, 2008 11:59 am US/Eastern
Get The Longest Life From Your Cut Flowers
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Cathy Vaucher loves to fill her home with fresh-cut flowers. Occasionally she'll buy her blooms from a florist, but usually she looks closer to home. "I pick flowers from my own garden during the summer months," she said, "and I cut them and bring them in probably on a three to four day basis."
For Cathy and other flower-lovers, there is nothing more frustrating than blooms that wilt before their time. Experts say it doesn't have to be that way. "A cut flower can definitely continue blooming, you should expect a bouquet of cut flowers to last seven days, a week in your home," said Kurt Schroeder of the
Society of American Florists.
Kurt offered up a few simple tricks anyone can use to help get the most out of their magnolias.
TIP 1: Get cut stems out of the heat and into water as quickly as possible. Don't leave your bouquet on a kitchen counter or a hot car.
TIP 2: Keep everything clean. Schroeder says make sure your vase is clean and change the water every couple of days.
TIP 3: Clean the dirt and debris from the flower stems and remove lower leaves before placing them in the water. If they soak in the water they'll create bacteria that can be harmful to the flowers.
TIP 4: Flower food will also help, but make sure you measure it carefully.
TIP 5: If you're buying flowers from a grocery store, find out what day the store gets its deliveries and buy them on that day. You'll have fresher flowers and they will be sure to last longer.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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