You’ve just received a bouquet as a gift for your birthday, anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Lucky you! Or, maybe you’ve bought them for yourself to make a rainy day a little brighter. No matter the occasion, you probably want to make them last as long as you can. Keep reading for expert tips on using items you probably have around the house to help your flowers in San Francisco, CA last longer than you thought possible!
- Sugar: You may crave sugar and find it best to stay away, but sugar can actually help your flowers and can act as a preservative. Dissolve three tablespoons sugar and two tablespoons white vinegar per quart of warm water and fill the vase. Cover cut stems by three to four inches of the prepared water. Sugar nourishes the flowers, while the vinegar inhibits bacteria.
- Coins: Copper pennies and a cube of sugar in the vase work wonders for flowers. The copper acts as an acidifier, which prohibits the growth of bacteria.
- Soda: Adding about a fourth cup of soda into the water in the vase is another way to add sugar into the mix, which makes blossoms last longer. Using Sprite or another clear soda will also preserve the clarity of the water.
- Vodka: Vodka, like copper, minimizes bacteria growth. Plus, it provides the nourishment that cut flowers lack from the absence of soil. Adding vodka or another clear spirit provides antibacterial support. When you change the water every other day, renew the spirit as well.
- Hair spray: Hair spray is one fix that can help the appearance of your flowers in San Francisco, CA. Spray just a spritz across the top of the bouquet on the leaves and petals. The spray can help preserve the petals and keep them looking fresher, longer.
- Apple cider vinegar: Mixing two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of sugar with the water in the vase will help increase the flowers’ longevity. Change the water every few days and remember to reapply the vinegar and sugar.
- Bleach: A large part of preserving flowers is inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Add one fourth teaspoon of bleach per quart of water to the vase. This can help inhibit bacteria growth and keep flowers looking fresh.
- Aspirin: Keep flowers looking and feeling good the same way you help yourself on bad days: with aspirin. Crushing a tablet of aspirin and adding it to the water is sure to keep cut flowers healthy. When you change the water every few days, remember to add another crushed aspirin to the mix.
If you’re looking for flowers in San Francisco, CA, the experts at The Delicate Daisy—House of Flowers can help you pick a wonderful bouquet for any occasion. Opened in 1939, our charming flower shop has been the premier destination for anyone looking for flowers or gifts for any occasion. Our locally owned establishment cares about the quality of our flowers, ensuring they are always fresh and fragrant.