Don't Kill The Flowers!

Many folks will be receiving beautiful flowers today, especially at work. And there's nothing sadder than when those blooms begin to fade quickly. Then you've got a vase full of dead flowers, and you're too lazy to throw it out.

So, here are a few useful tips from Reader's Digest for keeping those flowers alive for at least a day or two longer. There's no better way to keep the Singletons at work super jealous and hateful of you at all times than vibrant not-dead flowers on your desk.

It's a tacit and lovely way of telling the world, "Screw you. Someone loves me."


8 Ways to Make Flowers Last Longer

Aspirin
Put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Other household items that you can put in the water to extend the life of your flower arrangements include: a multivitamin, a pinch of salt and baking soda. Change the vase water every few days.


Bleach
Freshly cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per quart (1 liter) of vase water. Another popular recipe calls for 3 drops bleach and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 quart (1 liter) water. This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria.


Coins
Your posies and other cut flowers will stay fresh longer if you add a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase water.


Hair Spray
A spritz of hair spray can preserve your cut flowers. Stand a foot away from the bouquet and give them a quick spray, just on the undersides of the leaves and petals.


Soda
Pour about 1/4 cup into the water in a vase full of cut flowers. Note: If you have a clear vase and want the water to remain clear, use a clear soda, like Sprite or 7-Up.


Sugar
Dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar per quart (liter) of warm water. When you fill the vase, make sure the cut stems are covered by 3-4 inches (7-10 centimeters) of the prepared water. The sugar nourishes the plants, while the vinegar inhibits bacterial growth.



Vinegar
Everyone likes to keep cut flowers around as long as possible, and there are several good methods. One way is to mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vase water before adding the flowers. Be sure to change the water (with more vinegar and sugar, of course) every few days to enhance your flowers’ longevity.


Vodka
The secret is to minimize the growth of bacteria in the water and to provide nourishment to replace what the flower would have gotten had it not been cut. Add a few drops of vodka to the vase water for antibacterial action along with 1 teaspoon sugar. Change the water every other day, refreshing the vodka and sugar each time.