In daily life, fresh flowers play an indispensable role as important elements for beautifying the environment and expressing emotions. How to prolong the vitality of flowers and present a fuller beauty is a topic of concern for many.
Therefore, let's explore how to scientifically maintain flowers and extend their viewing period through several simple and practical methods.
1. Reduce consumption: When arranging flower branches, besides removing dead branches and leaves, it is also advisable to remove unnecessary flowers, branches, and leaves according to actual needs. This not only achieves a clean effect in flower arrangement but also reduces the consumption of fresh flowers, concentrating water and nutrients on the remaining branches as much as possible.
2. Increase absorption: It is essential to enlarge the cut surface of fresh flower stems to ensure the supply of water and nutrients. When cutting, immerse the base of the flower stem in water, then cut off the stem, ensuring that the cut surface does not come into contact with air. A slanted cut increases the absorption area, doubling the surface area compared to a flat cut.
3. Improve water quality Freshwater is crucial for maintaining flowers. Water should be changed daily, and in winter, it should be changed every two days. Rainwater is the most suitable for flower care, while well water, due to its alkaline taste, is not suitable. Additionally, adding aspirin tablets, a small amount of alcohol, potassium permanganate, alum, and salt, as well as detergents and fragrances can sterilize the water and dissolve it in the flower's sap.
4. Clean the cut: Disinfecting the cut and removing mucilage are effective methods for flower care. Cleaning the cut can be done by scalding, mainly for tender branches, by soaking the cut in hot water above 80°C for two minutes. Another method is cauterization, mainly for woody flower branches, using fire to shorten the cut surface without sap flow.
5. Feed the flowers: Flowers need more nutrients when blooming. At this time, adding vitamin C, sucrose, etc., to the vase can help.
6. Improve the environment: Flowers require a large amount of water, but their absorption is limited. Therefore, it is essential to minimize evaporation by placing flowers in a place sheltered from wind and sun. Exposure to sunlight and wind can quickly dehydrate flowers.
7. Moisturize the stems: Before arranging flowers, soak the stems in water for several hours or overnight. After arranging, regularly spray clean water on them to keep them moist.
8. Choose the right vase: For arrangements with many flowers, it is best to use a bulbous vase because it holds more water and keeps it from becoming dirty quickly. Conversely, narrow-necked or tube-shaped vases hold less water and can degrade the quality quickly. Using copper vessels for flower arrangements can extend their longevity.
9. Keep away from fruits: Fruits produce ethylene gas during ripening, which accelerates the aging of flowers. Therefore, keeping fruits near flowers will cause them to wither quickly.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we may often overlook the care of flowers. However, with careful attention and scientific methods, we can make these flowers bloom more brilliantly.
Through measures such as reducing consumption, increasing absorption, improving water quality, cleaning the cut, feeding the flowers, improving the environment, moisturizing the stems, choosing the right vase, and keeping away from fruits, we can give flowers a longer life, allowing their beautiful posture to continue to shine and add infinite color and joy to our lives. May every flower bloom its brightest under our careful care, bringing warmth and beauty to our lives.