What in Aspirin Helps Flowers?

Scientific research generally supports the use of aspirin on plants and flowers.

There are many "home remedies" to keep cut flowers fresher longer or ward off disease in live, but stressed, plants. One of the more persistent ideas is that flowers placed in a vase of aspirin-water will keep the bouquet fresh for longer. Scientific research both supports and debunks this idea, so no one can say with certainty whether it really works. However, scientists seem to agree aspirin may be the cure for what ails live, stressed plants.

Natural Aspirin

Originally, salicylic acid, the main ingredient in aspirin, was made from natural resources like white willow bark. This acid is actually a hormone that's common in many types of plants. In fact, when plants are attacked by an infection or disease, one of the things they do is give their immune system a boost by producing extra salicylic acid.

Live Plants

Aspirin manufactured in a laboratory is still chemically similar to the natural salicylic acid. Scientific research supports the idea that spraying stressed plants with the acid will trigger their natural immune system and give the plant a boost. Many nurseries employ this technique and some gardeners find it produces bigger, stronger plants.

Cut Flowers

Some scientific research also indicates that salicylic acid helps cut flowers last longer. They believe this is because the hormone stops a plant's ethylene production. Ethylene is a natural chemical that makes cut flowers wither up and die. Therefore, the theory goes, aspirin-water helps prevent ethylene from doing its job by slowing down the flower's natural tendency to dry up.

Aspirin Foliar Spray

According to Martha McBurney, master gardener of the University of Rhode Island vegetable garden, it's easy to make an aspirin-based foliar spray for live plants. For every 2 gallons of water used, she recommends adding 1 1/2 uncoated aspirin tablets. Dissolve the aspirin, and the resulting mixture can be sprayed on the foliage of live plants under stress.

Spray for Seeds

McBurney also recommends using the foliar aspirin spray directly on seeds that will be sowed in the soil. She claims a 100 percent seed germination using this method.

Aspirin for Cut Flowers

For cut flowers, drop a single, uncoated aspirin tablet into a vase of cold water. Stir until dissolved, then add flowers with freshly-cut stems.

References

• Chain of Life Network: While aspirin can help lessen headaches and other ailments, how useful is this universal medicine for potted and cut floral crops?
• Plant Tea: Plants feeling under the weather? Give them aspirin water!
• Idea Finder: Aspirin