How to Make Flowers Last Through Winter
For those who love flowers and love having outdoor and indoor flowers around their home, they know that winter can be a tough season on their plants. Cut flowers and potted flowering plants such as poinsettias and flowering bulbs can last longer when one adopts a few flower care techniques.
The following is a list of tips on how to make your flowers last through the winter:
Potted Flowers
1. When selecting a potted plant, the best choice would be a plant where there is just the bud that is showing. If there is no plant with just a bud, then pick a plant with bright green leaves. The plant you choose should not have roots protruding from the drainage holes. If there are roots this means the plant is root bound and should not be chosen.
2. Fill a water catcher with small stones. Fill the water catcher with enough water to barely cover the top of the stones.
4. Water the plant. Pour the water until it coming out of the drainage holes. Place your potted plant on top of the stones in the water catcher.
5. Place your potted plant in an area where it will be exposed to about 6 hours of sun each day. Temperatures of the room that the plant is in should be about 60 degrees F., even at night.
6. Whenever there are dead leaves and faded flowers, remove them.
7. Keep the water fresh and clean.
Cut Flowers
1. Prepare a vase for the flowers. Get your favorite vase and thoroughly wash it with dish detergent. Rinse the vase thoroughly and dry it.
2. When selecting your flowers, pick flowers that have just begun to open or are still a bud.
3. Place the stems in a container of cold water. While the stems are soaking in the water re-cut the stems by using a pair of scissors. When you cut the stems, make sure you cut it on a slant to allow for better water uptake. Take out any leaves that are in the water.
4. Fill the vase with half water and half with citrus soda such as Sprite. A teaspoon of sugar added to the water is a suitable replacement for citrus soda. You can add a few drops of lemon to the mix if you do not use citrus soda. Add the appropriate amount of flower food. Add a 1 tsp. of bleach. Mix and then add the flowers and arrange them.
5. Place the vase of flowers in a cool area out of the sun for about 2 hours. This will help the flower absorb the water/food mixture thereby increasing the lifespan of the flowers.
6. Put your vase of flowers in a place that is away from direct sunlight, drafts, and excess heat such heating vents. At night, place your arrangement in the refrigerator, but remember to take it out in the morning. Change the water and food every few days.
If properly cared for, you can extend the life of cut flowers and keep potted plants throughout the winter.
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