Flower Arranging...Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh

Flower Arranging... Neither a penny or aspirin dropped into a vase of cut flowers makes them last longer. Below is a list of what will:

• Allow the flowers to stand in tepid water for half an hour.
• Cut one to two inches from the bottom of each stem at a slant.
• Remove all foliage that will be below the water line.
• Fill a clean vase with warm water mixed with a floral preservative available at florist and garden shops.
• Arrange the flowers and set the vase in a cool place for several hours of conditioning.
• Keep them in a cool place and not on top of the T.V. or near heat registers.
• Keep them away from fruits and vegetables, which give off a gas that flowers cannot tolerate.
• Check the water level daily and add fresh water as needed.
• Move them to a cool place or on the floor at night.
• Use a turkey baster to remove old water and add fresh without disturbing your flower arrangement.

A centerpiece from the florist is usually arranged in foam. Water is most often added before delivery, but not always. Check to make sure the foam is well soaked and if you need to add water, it must be warm, about 100 degrees F, because warm water is absorbed faster. Most florists supply a package of floral preservative with an arrangement that prolongs the life of cut flowers. Check the foam after several days and soak it again if needed. If some of the flowers have faded, remove them, but most of the centerpiece should last many days.

When a box of cut flowers arrives from the florist they demand prompt attention. Re-cut the stems to open water-uptake cells. The cut can be straight across or on a slant.

Arrangements

Long stemed flowers in a wide-mouthed vase can be difficult to arrange. Make a criss-crossing of cellophane tape across the top of the vase to hold them in place.