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FLORAL DESIGN
SCHOOL
TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE
FLOWERS LAST LONGER
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By following a few simple steps
on how to treat flowers, you will have the pleasure of them lasting so
much longer.
Once flower stems have been cut you have removed their life
support system, so flowers should be placed in water as soon as possible.
Picking Your Own Flowers
If you are picking your own
flowers it is best to do this in the morning or in the late evening as
sugar reserves are the highest then. Ideally the best time is early
morning when the flower stems are filled with water after the cool
night air .
You should never pick flowers in the middle of the day when
the sun is at it's hottest.
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The heat of the sun lowers the water content in the stems and the
flowers will not last nearly as long. If it has been raining
and the flowers are wet, shake them gently to remove the excess
water. Too much water will often damage flowers - especially
delicately petalled flowers.
When To Pick Flowers
Most flowers should be picked
when they are in
bud or half open. You will then have the pleasure of seeing
them slowly open up. The colour of the petals should be
starting to show. If picked too tightly in bud, they may
never open. This is especially true of tulips and
roses. The green pointed sepals around the base of the rose
should be starting to turn downwards. Irises and daffodils
should be half opened. Gladioli should be picked when the
bottom three or four florets are open and the top florets are still in
bud. Carnations, dahlias, marigolds, hydrangeas, camellias,
gerberas and chrysanthemums should be picked when they are fully
opened.
Fill a plastic bucket a third to half way with warm water. Warm water
should be used as flowers take up warm water more readily than cold.
Its preferable to add preservative to the water. (The use of
preservatives is fully explained further on). It is advisable to use
plastic and not metal buckets as the chemicals in the metal can affect
flowers and can neutralize the effect of the preservative. flowers only
drink through the ends of the stems and not through the sides of the
stems, and for this reason buckets should not be filled right up to the
top with water, as foliage left on stems below the water line will rot
and pollute the water. This will cause bacteria and the flowers will
die more quickly. The foliage of marigolds, chrysanthemums, stock and
daisies send off a particularly strong odour when left standing under
water over a period of time. |
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