How to Keep Flowers Fresh With Sugar

If you're tired of watching your flowers wilt prematurely, look in your kitchen for a bit of a sugar and vinegar. Sugar keeps flowers fresh by acting as a source of nourishment, while a little white vinegar goes a long way to keep your flowers safe from bacteria while they dine on the sweet food source. Here is how to give your flowers a better and longer life with some items that you have in your cupboard.

Things You'll Need

• Large vase
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp white vinegar

Instructions

1. Grab a container or large vase. Fill the container or vase with 1 quart of lukewarm water. If you have bulb flowers like tulips, daffodils or hyacinths, use cold water.

2. Pour 3 tbsp. sugar and 2 tbsp. white vinegar into the water and mix the ingredients until both dissolve.

3. Submerge the flower stems in the mixture. Verify that the mixture is at least 4 inches above the bottom of the stems.

4. Cut the flowers' stems at an angle using a non-serrated, sharp knife while the stems are submerged. This prevents air bubbles from forming around your flowers' stems.

5. Remove submerged leaves.

6. Move the flower vase to a place in your home that has a cool temperature at night.

7. Replace the sugar water every two days.

Tips & Warnings

• Using distilled water instead of tap water can lengthen flowers' lives. If you have distilled water on hand, use it like you would regular tap water.

• If cutting fresh flowers from your garden, wait until early morning or late afternoon to cut them.

• Removing thorns from flowers may speed up wilting.

• Keep flowers away from fresh fruit. Ethanol released from the fruit can cause your flowers to wilt prematurely.

• Daffodils should be separated from other types of flowers.