| Caring for Garden Fresh Cut Flowers |
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Bring a bit of your garden’s beauty indoors for all to enjoy. Fresh cut flowers right from the garden make everyday a special occasion.
Collect flowers in the morning or evening when they are fully hydrated. Cut the flowering stems back to a set of healthy leaves or base of the flowering stems so the plant still looks good in the garden. Take a bucket of water to the garden to keep flowers fresh and hydrated while you harvest the rest of your bouquet. Store cut flowers in a cool location until you are ready to use them.
Recut the stem on a slight angle to prevent it from sitting square on the bottom of the vase, preventing the uptake of water. Place the flowers in fresh water in a clean vase. Keep the vase filled with water and add a bit of commercial or homemade floral preservative to the water. Make your own preservative by mixing in clear sugary soda and a drop of bleach. A bit more information: Any flower looks good in an arrangement, but some last longer than others. Try growing a few of these flowers to provide long-lasting added beauty in your arrangements. Consider adding lisianthus (Eustoma) that lasts 10 days in a vase. Other annuals to try include the taller ageratums like Blue Horizon, cockscomb, cosmos, mealycup salvia, strawflower, pansy, nicotiana, statis, petunia, snapdragon, sunflower, sweet pea and zinnia are just a few of the annuals suited for cutting. And, try using a few perennials in your arrangements as well like asters, mums, coreopsis, delphinium, coneflower, coral bells, lady’s mantle and phlox. For a bit of foliage use artemisia, dusty miller, hosta, lamb’s ear, lavender and twigs of euonymus and evergreens. |
Remove the lower leaves from the stems before arranging. Submerged leaves can lead to fungal growth and reduce vase life.
