What's in flower food anyhow?
the three ingredients are sucrose, citric acid, and biocide. In english:
SUGAR: Flowers produce sugar during photosynthesis and when they're cut, as are their food pipelines. Sugar is literally the 'food' that the cut flowers eat.
ACID: this lowers the water's pH level, which allows water to travel faster & reduce wilting in blooms
& BLEACH: sugar invites the growth of bacteria & microorganisms that are also looking for a snack. bleach keeps bacteria from clouding up the water and hindering the stems water uptake.
Don't have any flower food packets? There are a few different at home recipes I've seen (including one that leaves out the sugar all together and advocates for 1 part vodka to 3 parts water), but I haven't had particularly stellar luck with any of them. The best way to ensure your blooms last a long time is to frequently change the water, sanitize the vase with bleach and trim the ends of the stems so they continue to drink water.
The hydrangea in my bouquet is looking a little sad.. How can I perk it up?
The name hydrangea is derived from Greek and means 'water vessel' and it's no secret that they need a lot of water to maintain their fluffy appearance. To perk up a prematurely wilting hydrangea here are a few easy options:
- Remove the stem from the bouquet and totally submerge the blooms in a 'bath' of warm water for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the hydrangea from the water, recut the stem at an angle with a sharp knife and place them back into the bouquet.
- Give the hydrangea a 'rain shower' by placing them in your kitchen sink or shower and douse the blooms with room temperature water for a few minutes. When they stop dripping, give them a fresh cut, & place them back into the bouquet.
- Use a spray bottle and generously spritz the petals with room temperature water.
Some of my buds haven't opened yet. How can I make them bloom faster?
You can't rush perfection. But, you can give it a gentle nudge. If you want a tulip, rose, or peony to open up a bit, give the stem a fresh cut & place it in a vase with warm to hot (110 degrees Fahrenheit) water for 15 minutes. Warm water is absorbed faster than cooler water and should help the blooms open up a bit. Once the flower starts to open to your desired level, return it to the vase with the rest of your bouquet.
Have other flower questions?
Drop me a note via the orange button below and I'll try to find an answer for you!