Well, the most wonderful time of the year has arrived for the floral trade: Valentine’s Day.
Roses dominate the United States as the #1 flower to give on this occasion and folks are always wanting to know how they can preserve extend the life of the blooms they receive.
Here are my tips for getting the most our of your Valentine’s Day bouquet
- If they arrive in a box or wrapped in cellophane, remove them immediately and prepare them for a vase as follows:
- Fill your container with equal parts water and lemon-lime soda (sprite or 7UP)
- Add two aspirins
- Cut the end of the stems of each of the flowers and foliage you receive. The roses don’t care whether you cut straight across or on a slant. Just cut them. This cut allows the stems to be hydrated.
- As soon as you cut them plunge the stems into the mixture of water, soda and aspirin. This combination of sugar and pain reliever seems to do the trick!
- Arrange as necessary.
- Repeat this step every 2 days. As the stems become shorter and some of the blooms begin to fade, divide and move them to smaller containers. As the additional filler foliage fades, I add some from my garden. Rosemary, boxwood and others make great fillers and will give your blooms a new look.
- Most people find that by following this course of action, you can extend the life of your blooms up to 14 days.
I hope all your Valentine’s Day Dreams Comes True!
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About Chris VanCleave - America's Favorite Rose Gardener
Christopher R. VanCleave – America’s Favorite Rose Gardener
Nicknamed "The Redneck Rosarian”, Chris VanCleave is passionate about gardening and growing roses. He is an active member of the Birmingham chapter of the American Rose Society, serving two terms as President. In 2007, he created the Rose Chat Podcast which has reached over a half a million listeners with news and information on growing on growing the world’s most beloved flower, the rose.
He was a contributor to the 2015 Southern Living Gardening Book, has appeared on P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home television show and was featured in the June 2015 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Locally, Chris serves as Chairman of the Helena Alabama Beautification Board where he has spearheaded efforts to create a sustainable landscape in one of the top one hundred places to live in the United States.
His writing is seen at About.com and on his popular website; RedneckRosarian.com, where he chronicles his gardening adventures and explores an intrinsic mix of life, faith and gardening.
An agent of change with over 20 years’ experience in process innovation, Mr. VanCleave is leading the charge to reinvigorate horticultural societies and helping them to reach their full potential in the social media age.
Thank you, thank you! Not that I get any flowers anymore. But maybe I’ll buy myself some!
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Reblogged this on Butterfly Garden and commented:
Here is some handy information on preserving cut flowers!
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