Sugar Water's Effect on Cut Flowers

Cut roses

Throughout history flowers have been cut and brought inside to beautify homes. Literature and the arts attest to the cultivation of roses, carnations and a vast amount of other flowers for domestic enjoyment. Interestingly, it wasn't until the 17th century that mass production of cut flowers began. According to North Carolina State University, it was the invention of the greenhouse in the Netherlands that allowed for mass market flower production.

Reason to Add

Cutting a flower from a plant removes it from its source of food production: the foliage of the main plant. Though cut flowers often retain a few leaves, the low light conditions in most homes limit the amount of nutrients your cut flower can actually make for itself, according to MadSci Network. Adding sugar also keeps the water from going stale in the vase.

Results

Adding sugar to your cut flower arrangement artificially provides it with the carbohydrates that would normally be supplied through the process of photosynthesis, according to MadSci Network. Though the leaves and stems of your cut flowers are still capable of photosynthesis, the addition of sugars augments the amount of food your cut flower is producing.

Types of Flowers that Benefit

Though the use of sugar water can prolong the life of your cut flowers, not all cut flower arrangements benefit equally from being placed in sugar water. According to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and MadSci Network, there are several kinds of flowers that react extremely well to it. Roses and snapdragons are both affected the most by the addition of sugar to your vase water.

Recipe

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and MadSci Network both caution against using too much sugar, as it is more likely to reduce the lifespan of your cut flower rather than increase it. Starting with a quart of warm water, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens recommends that you add 1 tsp. of sugar, 1 tsp. of bleach, and 2 tsp. of lemon juice for optimal preservation. The lemon juice enhances your flower's ability to take water up into its stem; the bleach helps to prevent bacteria from growing in the vase water.

Other Helpful ips

Helping your cut flower absorb the sugar water will further increase its longevity. The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens recommends that you avoid using household scissors or knives when cutting flower stems. These often crush the vascular system of the flower stem and decrease its ability to absorb water. Instead, they recommend that you use garden shears. They also claim that cutting your stem at a 45-degree angle will increase surface area and thereby increase your flower's absorption of sugar water.

References

• Brooklyn Botanical Gardens: Cut-Flower Care
• MadSci Network: How Does Sugar Affect Long Cut Flowers?
• NC State University: Brief History of Specialty Cut Flower Production