Flowers have been accompanying people for a long time, both in gardens and on many occasions ascut flowersfor bouquets and vases. However, every flower deprived of natural access to the root has a difficult ability to draw water and without proper care will begin to wilt very quickly. Sohow to take care of cut flowersso that they don't lose their beauty too quickly? Here are some practical tips on which cut flowers to choose for a vase andhow to make cut flowers last longer !
Cut flowers accompany us on various occasions. We can create beautiful, colorful bouquets from them. The photo shows a bouquet of dahlias and goldenrod
How to make cut flowers stand longer?
"There are some basic rules that will makecut flowers stay longerin a vase.
How to cut flowers for a vase?Having the opportunity to obtain flowers from your own plot, remember that the cutting tool (knife, pruner) should be sharp and the cut itself as clean as possible. Contrary to appearances, it is one of the most important activities. The stalk that we tear or simply break off during cutting has badly damaged tissues. In places of such damage, after putting the flowers into the water, putrefying processes begin quite quickly. After such an improper treatment, the mother plant will also be exposed to pathogens more quickly than through a smooth, even cut surface. For the same reason, we do not crush the ends of the stems, despite the widespread popular opinion that it is worth doing so. "
If we grow cut flower plants in the garden, cut the flowers into the vase early in the morning or in the evening, on dry days.Cut at noon, they will stay in the vase much shorter. Some can be harvested in the phase of colored buds, e.g. roses or peonies, others in full bloom, e.g. zinnia or dahlias, because they will not develop in a vase with a bud. When harvesting flowers such as lilies or tulips, it is worth removing their anthers. Not only do they easily get dirty with falling pollen, but they also exhaust the plant excessively.
How to put cut flowers in a vase?
Before we putcut flowersin a vase, it is good to trim the end of the stem diagonally. This treatment increases the water uptake area and is especially important for flowers with stiff, thickened stems that are difficult to absorb (e.g. roses, lilacs, jasmine). Before placing flowers or plant compositions in a vase, be sure to remove all leaves below the water level. Because without oxygen, the leaves will start to rot quickly when submerged in water.
The most popular cut flowers are, of course, roses. We can present them on various occasions. Before placing the rose in a vase, it is a good idea to trim the ends of their stems diagonally
Should the water in the vase be changed?
"Another important activity is frequent water change in the vessel. It must be clean, cold, preferably distilled or boiled (the chlorine content adversely affects the durability of the flowers). On this occasion, it is also worth rinsing the stems of the plants and cutting their tips a bit. On warm days, the water should be changed even every day, because putrefactive processes take place faster in such conditions, which causes water deterioration and prevents effective absorption by flower stalks. The so-called blockages from pathogens. As a consequencecut flowerswilt quickly. "
Certain species should not be placed in one container with other plants because the substances they emit are toxic. Narcissus is one of these plants. Its mucilaginous discharge is deadly to other plants. We can try to soak it in water and remove this unpleasant feature a bit, but if we do not have to, we should not put it in compositions with other flowers.
An example of how to properly trim the oblique stem before placing it in a vase. This treatment increases the water uptake area and is especially important for flowers with stiff, thickened stems, such as roses
What to do when the cut flowers are withered
Some flowers that are slightly wilted can be restored to freshness by placing them whole in a bowl or tub filled with cold water for 2-3 hours or even overnight. The flowers should lie on the surface of the water, preferably in a cool and dark room. Roses react particularly favorably to this treatment, provided that they are not very much wilted anymore.
Let us not put vases of flowers near ripe fruit. They emit ethylene, which has a very negative effect on the durability of flowers. It causes their aging and wilting faster. Ethylene is also released by wiltingcut flowers , so they should be systematically removed from the bouquet or vase.For the same reasons, cut flowers do not benefit from car exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke. Orchids, carnations, lilies and roses are particularly sensitive to ethylene, and slightly less anthuriums, gerberas and dahlias.
Before putting the plants in the water, it is good to soak the ends of the stems for several seconds in alcohol or hot water, which will disinfect the cutting site. Place the vases with compositions in places where they will not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Cut flower garden owners are happy to grow peonies. Unlike dahlias and zinnia, we can cut them into a vase already in the phase of colored bud
Cut flower nutrients
We can also add substances to the water to help extend the life of the flowers (e.g. various types of Chrysal). However, when the ready preparation is not at hand, then we can use several proven home methods.One of the great additions to water is sugar, which is also found in any ready-made cut flower mix. The flower needs energy that the plant has provided it so far, so after cutting it has no place to get it from, and sugars are an excellent source of it. However, they are also an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and fungi. Therefore, we must remember to add an agent to the water to prevent their excessive development at the same time as sugar. It can be a polopyrin s tablet or a pinch of potassium permanganate. We can also add some citric acid to the water. It enhances the color of flowers and facilitates the transport of water.
The most common concentrations of home preparations per 1 liter of water are: 1-2 teaspoons of sugar together with 1 tablet of polopyrin s or a little potassium permanganate (until the water turns pink). For 1 liter of water, we can also add a pinch of citric acid or 1 teaspoon of s alt. However, when using these substances, the individual needs of the species should be taken into account.For example, sweet pea or carnation needs much more sugar, a little less rose, pyrethrum and lily, and very little zinnia.
Which cut flowers last the longest?
The most durablecut flowers , lasting up to 2-3 weeks in a vase, include: orchids, alstroemeria, pyrethrum, amaryllis, anthurium, cloves, gladioli, left-handed flowers (plucked together with the root that belongs to rinse off the soil). The shortest, because a few days, will stay in the water: dahlias, daylilies, gloriasis, lilacs, nerin. Flowers are usually immersed in water to a depth of about 1/2 shoot. Only gerberas require a low water level, approx. 5 cm. When composing bouquets of buttercups or tulips, we must take into account the fact that they can elongate in a vase.
In gardens, as cut flower plants, we can successfully grow dahlias. They are cut off in full bloom, because in a vase with a bud they are unlikely to develop
Cut flowers for various occasions
Of course, not everycut flowersfit every occasion. These rules slightly change with the current trends and fashions, but certain groups of plants have long been associated and assigned to specific situations they accompany.
The most powerful symbol is, of course, the red rose, invariably associated with love, Valentine's Day and other occasions aimed at showing affection for a loved one. Sometimes in a duet with white flowers and proper decoration, they can be used to emphasize the patriotic and official character of a given place or meeting.
Name days or birthdays are such loose holidays that we can allow ourselves a lot of freedom in choosing the type of flowers. Neutral and quite universal flowers for such bouquets are: gerbera, roses (preferably of a color other than red), carnations, orchids, anthuriums, lilies, eustoma, freesias, gloriasis, irises, alstromers, gladioli, ornamental sunflowers.However, avoid plants such as calla and chrysanthemums, which are associated with funeral bouquets.
When dealing with children, first of all, choose flowers that are delicate, white or in bright colors, referring to the sun, joy and innocence. So, bouquets of white daisies, small roses (preferably without thorns), eustoma, lily of the valley, violets or freesias will look good at baptisms, kinder balls or communions. In such situations, the rather serious gerberas, anthuriums or royal strelitzia are no longer suitable.
When choosing the right flowers, we can also help with the current season of the year. All spring occasions, including Easter, are great for tulips, hyacinths, daffodils or narcissuses, while autumn bouquets are perfect for gilding and asters. Most flowers work well in a variety of compositions, but exotic or very ornamental, such as strelitzias or hipeastrum, will look better individually than in a bouquet.
Tulips are also very popular cut flowers, especially in spring
Cut flowers from florists
Finally, some tips for buyerscut flowers in flower shopsChoose those whose petals are firm and he althy, and the plant has no damage or symptoms of a disease, e.g. fungal disease. Pathogens quickly penetrate the lesions and accelerate the wilting of flowers. It's best to buy those whose petals are not in full bloom, because they may be in the store for some time and will not stay at home for too long. They should also not be in a green bud, as they may not develop at all. If the flower has leaves, it is important not to wilt.
Katarzyna Józefowicz
