New Delhi: Valentine’s Day is over, but there’s a way to keep your flowers fresh for longer. A team of researchers has found that adding lemongrass essential oil to your vase can increase the life of cut flowers, especially the ubiquitous gladiolus.
In a study, publishedin the journal Scientific Reports Tuesday, researchers from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, explained how a splash of lemongrass essential oil could solve premature wilting in gladiolus flowers thanks to its antimicrobial and antioxidising properties.
The gladiolus, a bulbous flower, is popular for its variety of colours and used widely in bouquets and other floral arrangements. However, the life of the flower is short post harvest, thereby limiting its marketing and commercial value.
The researchers found thattreatment with just 5 microlitres of lemongrass oil per litre of distilled water could extend the vase life of gladiolus to up to 11 days, compared to seven days in plain distilled water.
“In the controlled conditions of the lab, cut gladiolus flowers last about seven days. Adding lemongrass essential oils extended the shelf life by two to four days,” Meenakshi Thakur, a researcher at CSIR-IHBT and one of the authors of the study, told ThePrint.
She said using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the team observed “intact vasculature” in the lemongrass-treated sample, indicating that the essential oil reduced microbial blockage at the stem end. Microbial blockage at the stem end is one of the main reasons for early ageing in cut flowers, as it disrupts water uptake and transport, causing water imbalance and wilting.
Moreover, the treated cut spikes had lower levels of genes associated with ageing and higher expression of antioxidant genes. These factors together helped extend the post-harvest life of cut flowers, she added.
While the team only worked with gladiolus for this project, Thakur said that lemongrass oil is likely to extend the vase life of other flowers as well since microbial blockage at the stem happens in all kinds of cut flowers.
The essential oil is needed in small quantities – just a few microlitres – making this very cost-effective for the flower industry, she added.
An eco-friendly solution
In the past, researchers have used different chemicals such as silver nitrate, silver thiosulfate, nano silver, calcium, and hydrogen gas to extend the shelf life of cut flowers. However, these chemicals are expensive and have negative impacts on the environment and human health, the study explained.
Essential oils, on the other hand, are eco-friendly agents that have antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and insecticidal properties. Lemongrass essential oil is rich in bioactive constituents which have demonstrated their antimicrobial activity by suppressing the growth of several bacteria.
By reducing microbial blockage at the stem end and enhancing antioxidant activity, lemongrass oil can improve the vase life of cut flowers, making them more commercially valuable. However, further research is needed to optimise the concentration and application of the oil to different cut flowers and to evaluate its impact on environment and human health.
(Edited by Geethalakshmi Ramanathan)
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FAQs
The researchers found that treatment with just 5 microlitres of lemongrass oil per litre of distilled water could extend the vase life of gladiolus to up to 11 days, compared to seven days in plain distilled water. “In the controlled conditions of the lab, cut gladiolus flowers last about seven days.
Is lemongrass essential oil good for plants? ›
Benefits of Lemongrass Oil in Pest Control
Natural and Non-Toxic: Lemongrass oil offers a safe and natural alternative to synthetic pesticides, which can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. Its gentle yet effective properties make it suitable for use around children, pets, and sensitive plants.
Can you put essential oils in flower vase water? ›
Stems cut at an angle allow the flower to soak nutrients more easily. Add a drop or two (depending on your vase size) of Purification or Tea Tree Essential Oil to the water. Using filtered water can help reduce chemicals often found in tap water such as chlorine and other minerals, which can lead to reduced plant ...
How do you increase flower vase life? ›
How to Extend the Vase Life of Cut Flowers
- Cut Only When Flowers are Cool and Fully Hydrated. ...
- Always Use Clean Tools and Clean Buckets. ...
- Remove All Leaves That Fall Below the Water Line. ...
- Cut the Stems at an Angle. ...
- Add Flower Food to the Vase Water. ...
- Change the Water to Keep it Clean. ...
- Pick Often and Enjoy the Process. ...
- Bonus Tip!
Cut flowers need three main ingredients to preserve freshness:
- Sugar to provide nourishment.
- Citric acid to reduce the water's pH level. This allows the water to travel through the stem quickly, preventing wilting.
- Antibacterial agent to keep down the growth of microflora (bacteria and microscopic algae and fungi).
Some people might develop a rash or skin irritation. When inhaled: Lemongrass essential oil is possibly safe when used in aromatherapy. Pregnancy: Lemongrass is likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. Lemongrass can stimulate the uterus and menstrual flow, which might cause a miscarriage.
Which is better lemon or lemongrass essential oil? ›
Benefits: While both oils offer many potential benefits, there are some differences in the specific benefits that each oil is known for. For example, lemon essential oil is often used to boost mood and energy levels, while lemongrass is often used to reduce inflammation and pain.
What oil makes flowers last longer? ›
By reducing microbial blockage at the stem end and enhancing antioxidant activity, lemongrass oil can improve the vase life of cut flowers, making them more commercially valuable.
What do you put in water to keep flowers alive in a vase? ›
Dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar per quart (liter) of warm water. When you fill the vase, make sure the cut stems are covered by 3-4 inches (7-10 centimeters) of the prepared water. The sugar nourishes the plants, while the vinegar inhibits bacterial growth.
What essential oils are good for preserving flowers? ›
The powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties of our Tea Tree Essential Oil help prevent bacterial and mold growth while slowing the oxidative process of the flowers and elongating their lifespan.
Here are some tips to make sure your homegrown bouquets last for as long as possible.
- No foliage in the water. When you put your flowers into a vase, there should be no foliage below the water line. ...
- Use a squeaky-clean vase. ...
- Make clean cuts. ...
- Condition the flowers. ...
- Keep them cool. ...
- Refresh the water. ...
- Edit as needed.
Take your wilted flower and snip the stem at an angle about 1 inch from the already cut end of the flower. 2. Add three teaspoons of sugar to the lukewarm water in your vase, and place the wilted flower in and let it sit. The sugar will perk them right up!
How do you make flowers look taller in a vase? ›
Extend Stems with Straws
If your vase is too tall, or if your bouquet is looking a little on the paltry side, give the flowers some added height using plastic drinking straws. Inserting the stems partway gives you a little bit more length to work with.
What chemical makes flowers last longer? ›
Biocides:Two common biocides are household bleach and Physan,which is used as a disinfectant in restaurants. A solution of 50 ppm bleach or 100 ppm of Physan works well for most cut flowers.
What is the best preservative for flowers? ›
Experts recommend mixing up a solution of one part soda and three parts water, along with a few drops of microbe-killing bleach. Sodas makes the water more acidic, which means it can travel up the stem of the flower more quickly. Also, the sugar serves as food for the flower.
Does 7up make flowers last longer? ›
Something like 7-Up or Sprite will help keep your flowers lasting longer without turning the color of your water a murky brown. The science behind it? The sugar in the soda helps feed the flowers and the acidity helps lower the pH of the water, allowing the flowers to suck up more nutrients.
What bugs hate lemongrass essential oil? ›
Lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus) is an effective repellent against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and house flies (Diptera: Muscidae).
Is lemongrass essential oil a pesticide? ›
Its uses as a pesticide active ingredient are primarily as an anti-fungal agent in post-harvest handling and as an insect repellent. Lemongrass oil also has some herbicidal properties. The essential oil is high in citral, which is considered the principal biologically active agent.
What is lemongrass good for in the garden? ›
Few pests bother lemongrass. This herb is actually sometimes used in concoctions to repel insects. Occasionally, though, spider mites will attack plants overwintering indoors.
