How to Keep Lilac Bouquets Fresh
Lilac (Syringa) is a reliable ornamental shrub that will produce huge clusters of miniature flowers for two to three weeks every spring. The flowers may be either single or double blooms in shades of lavender, purple, pink, white or yellow, depending on the variety. Prolong your enjoyment of short-lived lilacs by bringing a few sweet-smelling flowers indoors for a cut flower bouquet. Although cut lilac blooms often begin to wilt after two days, proper care will ensure that the flowers last as long as possible. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Large vase
- Liquid dish detergent
- Commercial floral preservative
- sharp knife
Instructions
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Cut lilac blooms in the evening or early in the morning before the dew dries. Lilacs with some unopened buds will last longer. Place the lilacs immediately in a bucket of tepid water to keep the blooms fresh.
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Scrub a vase with warm, soapy water. Rinse the vase thoroughly to remove the detergent.
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Fill the vase with comfortably warm water -- about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a packet of commercial floral preservative to the water and stir to mix.
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Remove the lilacs from the bucket of water. Strip off any leaves that will be underneath the water when the lilacs are placed in the vase. Use a sharp knife to make a diagonal cut about 1/2 inch from the bottom of each stem.
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Arrange the lilacs in the vase. Place the lilacs in a cool room away from heat vents, air conditioners, drafty windows and doors and bright sunlight.
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Replace the water with fresh water every day, and cut the bottom 1/2 inch from each stem. Discard any wilted flowers, as decomposing flowers or foliage will destroy the remaining flowers.
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Tips & Warnings
Although commercial floral preservatives are preferred, a homemade preservative can be used. Stir 4 tsp. granulated sugar and 2 tbsp. vinegar into each quart of warm water.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
