Effect of Sugar on Cut Flowers

Sugar provides a perservative and food source for cut flowers.

Cut flowers help dress up a table and bring the outdoors inside. You may have trouble keeping cut flowers looking fresh for more than a few hours after cutting. Even expensive flower arrangements from the florist may wilt without proper care. Cut flowers wilt because they are removed from their root system and have no access to nourishment. Sugar provides natural nourishment and preservation for flowers.

Cutting Flowers

The method by which flowers are cut from the garden and placed in a vase affects their ability to take in water and nourishment. The Master Gardeners website suggests gardeners cut their flowers in the early morning. Filling a basin with water and cutting another 1 to 2 inches from the stems at an angle allows more water to flow into the flowers, keeping them fresh for longer. Leaves touching the water in the vase should be removed.

Flower Preservation

The University of Minnesota's Horticultural Department recommends adding a flower preservative to prolong the life of cut flowers. Preservatives typically contain sugar and acidifiers, which help counteract the removal of roots and functioning leaves. Preservatives provide energy and continued development.

Nourishment

In addition to preserving flowers, sugar provides nourishment. According to Master Gardeners, flowers require food for growth and color even after they are cut. Adding sugar to the water in a vase helps provide food.

Homemade Sugar Solutions

Master Gardeners recommends mixing one part lemon-lime soda with three parts water and ¼ tbsp. of bleach per quart to make a homemade preservative and nourishment solution. Do not use a diet soda because it does not contain sugar. Another homemade solution can be made from 1 tbsp. of sugar, 2 tbsp. of lemon juice, ¼ tbsp. of bleach and a quart of water.

Commercial Flower Solutions

The University of Minnesota recommends using commercial preservatives, which are made up of sucrose (sugar) and acidifier. Tap water is typically very alkaline and not conducive to plant life. The combination of sugar and acidifying ingredients helps preserve the life of cut flowers.

References

• Master Gardeners: Extending Life of Cut Flowers
• University of Minnesota: Keeping Cut Flowers and Flowering Plants