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We typed "how to care for cut flowers" into the Yahoo! search box and harvested a bushel of tips and tricks to keep a bouquet looking fresh longer. First, before you put the flowers in a vase, cut the stems. Hold the stems underwater, and use a sharp knife to cut them on the diagonal. Don't use dull scissors because they can crush the stem and prevent the flowers from soaking up as much water as they need. Make sure to remove all the leaves and thorns that will be underwater in the vase. Leaves under the water line can cause bacteria and algae to form. Next, prepare the water.
Most flowers prefer lukewarm water, although spring flowers (such as tulips, irises, and daffodils) survive best in ice-cold water. A floral preservative can help the flowers last longer. You can use a store-bought preservative or make your own. Some recipes mix lemon with a little bleach, while others recommend a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of bleach. However, some experts advise against any home concoctions because they don't provide the complex mixture of nutrients and preservatives that cut flowers need to survive. Once your bouquet is in the vase, keep it out of direct sunlight and place it in a cool spot. Remove flowers as they wilt so
they don't contaminate the rest of the bouquet. Change the water at least every two or three days, if not daily. Make sure to add more preservative to the water every time, and you can re-cut the stems to allow the flowers to absorb more water. Some types of flowers benefit from special care. When lilies open, they show their pollen-covered anthers. To make cut lilies last longer (and prevent staining), remove these anthers. You can keep cut roses from drooping by poking a pinhole in the stem right below the blossom. Don't mix daffodils and narcissi with other flowers because their cut stems emit a slime that's toxic to other flowers. And don't mix
flowers and fruit in the same arrangement -- the fruit will make the flowers wilt faster. If you follow these suggestions, most cut flowers will last about a week. Gladiolus, statice, liatris, and lisianthus will last up to 10 days, and carnations have been known to last 21 days with proper care.
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