Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension service offers tips on making cut flowers from your garden last longer. The best time to cut flowers is early morning, when the plants are fully hydrated and before the sun hits the flower bed. If you cut midday, blossoms are fully open and won't last as long. Use sharp cutting tools so that you don't crush the stems and inhibit their ability to take up water. Never pull a flower off the plant: you risk damaging both. After you cut flowers, plunge them immediately into a deep bucket full of fresh water so they won't lose moisture. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle: straight-cut stems may rest on the bottom of the container and be unable to take up water (figure A). Remove any leaves or foliage that would be submerged in the vase. As leaves decompose, bacteria forms in the water and clogs the stems, reducing the amount of water flowers can take up. Before adding flowers, add a commercial floral preservative to the water, or make your own by adding 1 teaspoon sugar and one crushed aspirin to 1 quart of warm water. Add a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria. The sugar nourishes the flowers, and the acidic aspirin improves the ability of the plant to take up water. Another easy flower preservative may be made from one part lemon-lime soda and three parts water. When using flowers with hollow stems, such as Queen Anne's lace and amaryllis, pour water directly into the stems. Then hold the tip of your finger over the base of each stem, and plunge it into the vase. The process is messy, but the flowers will last much longer. Before placing woody stems into the vase, crush their ends with a hammer or other heavy object. Or use clippers or a knife to slit the stems (figure B). After cutting flowers that exude a milky sap -- for example, zinnias and poinsettias -- use a butane lighter or match to burn the ends and seal in the sap. Any plant with nodes on the stems, such as carnations, should be cut between the nodes for best results (figure C). Bulb flowers respond well to a little vodka in the water. If you prepare cut flowers correctly, you'll be able to enjoy them for five to seven days. Keep them out of direct light and away from heater vents, and never place them on top of a heat-producing appliance such as a television. Tip: - Cut flowers from bulbs such as tulips or daffodils really stiffen up with just an ounce of vodka added to the water, says show host Kim Haworth.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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