How Do Chemicals Prolong the Life of Cut Flowers?

Packets of plant food that are sold with cut flowers feed and sanitize the blooms.

Fresh-cut flowers require special care to prevent them from prematurely wilting and dying. Commercial preservatives often are sold with floral bouquets to keep the blooms from becoming lackluster too soon. A cut flower continues to live, eat and breathe even when placed inside a pot, so these powdery chemicals are necessary to prolong their vase life.

Flower Basics

Flowers are 90 percent water and have a vascular system similar to humans. Their cells function like a drinking straw by extracting fluids into the leaves and blossoms. The vascular cells have to remain open so that water can circulate throughout the plant. This makes bacteria hazardous to plants because these contaminants not only develop very easily and quickly, but they also can block the flow of water.

Deadly Bacteria

Bacteria and fungus feed off the sap that oozes from a cut flower's stem. The growth of these bacteria in a standard flower vase is so rapid that floral experts estimate that 30 million germs will be swarming within three hours of placing cut blooms into a container. As a result, the buds will not open and the plant will droop because of blocked water circulation. This brisk growth of bacteria warrants use of chemicals.

Chemicals

Those tiny packets of plant food that are sold with floral bouquets contain sugar, an acidifier and a chemical biocide. Sugar supplies nourishment to maintain the energy level in flowers and is stored in the leaves and stem. The added chemicals prevent the growth of bacteria while lowering the pH levels to enhance the water intake. Another instance of chemicals prolonging the life of cut flowers is the use of mild bleach to scour and rinse a vase before and after each use to kill any residual bacteria.

Using Preservatives

Chemical mixtures can be purchased in powder, tablet or liquid forms at floral shops and craft stores for flower enthusiasts who prefer to cut bouquets from their own gardens. These special additives can lengthen the vase life by seven days. The individual packets are premeasured so that the entire package can be added to the vase. When pouring chemicals from larger containers into small vases, floral arrangers should be cautious to follow the directions exactly and avoid adding more or less than prescribed.

Natural Remedies

Some gardeners prefer natural solutions to chemicals when it comes to extending the vase life of cut flowers. For instance, a copper penny at the bottom of a vase acts as a natural fungicide, says Debra Lynn Dadd in "Care2: Caring for Cut Flowers Without Chemicals." She also recommends a teaspoon of sugar per cup of water or a small amount of a natural fertilizer to nourish fresh flowers.

References

• Ramsey Ad Agency: Your "How To" Guide For Cut Flowers
• Save On Crafts: Floral Design 101
• Care2: Caring For Cut Flowers Without Chemicals