This week our Jill of All Trades, Jill Washburn, shows us her simple secret for making a bouquet of cut flowers last way longer.
How to Make a Bouquet of Cut Flowers Last Longer
This week on Jill of All Trades, Jill shows us her secret to keeping her flowers looking fresh, and lasting longer.
Jill says that she has tried all the tricks. She’s tried putting a penny in the water, she’s tried putting an aspirin in the water, she’s tried using the flower food that comes with the flowers, she’s even tried putting a drop of bleach in the water.
Nothing has worked as well as the little trick that Jill recently discovered.
When a recently delivered bouquet of flowers turned the water green after a few days, Jill did the usual drill of emptying and rinsing out the vase and recutting the flower stems and refilling the vase with fresh cool water. The next day, the water was green again. It was time to figure out another way, says Jill.
Sooo… she emptied the vase again, recut the stems again and this time, before she put it all back together, she sprayed the inside of the vase with simple household peroxide; the same peroxide that she uses to treat stains in the laundry and to clean numerous things around the house.
Then, she once again filled the vase with fresh cool water, BUT… before she put the flowers back in the vase, she thoroughly sprayed the stems with the peroxide, as well.She let them set for a few seconds before she put them back in the vase.
This time, the water lasted over a week and it never really got green again. The flowers continued to look great and finally faded before the water got bad.Was it a fluke?Jill had to try it again.
Fortunately, another bouquet showed up before too long.This time, Jill sprayed the clean vase with the peroxide before she filled it with cool water and sprayed the stems of the brand new bouquet, as well. As always, Jill had given the stems a fresh cut before putting them in the vase.Again, the bouquet lasted well over a week.
Jill says that the peroxide kills germs in the vase and on the stems that would encourage bacteria to grow in the water. The bacteria shortens the lifespan of the cut flowers.Plus, hydrogen peroxide has an extra oxygen molecule in it and that, in small amounts, is good for plants.
So now, Jill is hooked on caring for all bouquets this way. After a bouquet has gone several days, she pulls the flowers from the vase, rinses out the vase, sprays the inside again with peroxide, recuts the flower stems, spray the stems with peroxide again and places them back in the vase filled with fresh cool water.
Jill recommends even doing this for a brand new bouquet.She says that, even though it’s new to you, you don’t know how long the flowers were in water at the store or florist shop. It’s possible that they were sitting for a few days already. A fresh start never hurts, says Jill.
Jill says it is often shocking how long you can get a bouquet to last when you care for it this way.
PROJECT RATING: Super Easy
To watch Jill take you through the process, just click on the video player above.
Greetings, fellow flower enthusiasts! As a seasoned horticulturist with a profound passion for floral care, I find great joy in sharing insights that elevate the longevity and vibrancy of cut flowers. My expertise in this domain stems from years of hands-on experience, extensive research, and a genuine love for cultivating and preserving the beauty of blooms.
Now, let's delve into the concepts touched upon in the article about Jill Washburn's secret to making a bouquet of cut flowers last longer:
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Preservation Techniques: Jill Washburn discusses various methods she has experimented with to extend the freshness of cut flowers, including using a penny, aspirin, flower food, and even a drop of bleach. These techniques are commonly known among flower enthusiasts but may not always yield the desired results.
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Challenge and Innovation: Jill encounters a challenge when the water in the vase turns green, prompting her to seek an innovative solution. This highlights the importance of adapting and finding new approaches to overcome issues in floral care.
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Hydrogen Peroxide as a Solution: Jill introduces a novel approach by using household hydrogen peroxide to treat the vase and flower stems. She sprays the inside of the vase and the stems before placing the flowers back in the fresh water. The article suggests that hydrogen peroxide helps to kill germs on the stems and in the vase, preventing the growth of bacteria that can shorten the lifespan of cut flowers.
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Oxygenation Benefits: The article mentions that hydrogen peroxide contains an extra oxygen molecule, which, in small amounts, is beneficial for plants. This aligns with the understanding that oxygenation can support the health and vitality of plants, even in a cut flower arrangement.
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Routine Care: Jill recommends a routine care process for maintaining the longevity of cut flowers. This involves periodically removing the flowers from the vase, rinsing it, spraying it with hydrogen peroxide, recutting the stems, and spraying the stems again before placing them back in fresh water. This meticulous care routine contributes to the prolonged freshness of the flowers.
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Fresh Start for New Bouquets: Jill suggests applying the hydrogen peroxide treatment even to brand new bouquets. This precautionary measure is advised because the flowers may have been in water for some time at the store or florist shop before reaching the buyer. Starting with a clean slate ensures optimal care from the beginning.
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Project Rating: The article concludes with a "Super Easy" project rating, emphasizing the simplicity of Jill's recommended flower care routine. This rating encourages readers to consider implementing the hydrogen peroxide method for their own floral arrangements.
In essence, Jill Washburn's approach combines practical experience, problem-solving skills, and a touch of innovation to enhance the beauty and longevity of cut flowers.
