Hello, hello,

Could anyone suggest the best way to keep cut flowers alive and healthy for as long as possible? My girlfriend sent me some on valentines day and they are already starting to dry a little...

Thanks,

Max

Flowers have the ability to heal their stems, so you need to cut a little off the bottom every few days... some people swear that lemonade works, others that disolving an asprin in the water does the trick but test show that the sachets sold with the flowers works the best, but if you need to top up try adding sugar to the water...

If its roses, then you need to cut the stems almost in half for as much of the length as possible and have as much of the stem underwater for as long as possible...

If they do still wilt too early, try to revive them by filling the sink with water, and soaking the whole rose, bloom as well... then wrap overnight in moist newspaper - this should straighten them until the next time...

Flowers also last longer in a cool room and also ripening bananas will make them go over (die off) even quicker... so keep them in the coldest room overnight and only have them on display when you are in the room to enjoy them...

Angie

I've actually used the sugar tip as a pick me up for flowers that were wilting and it actually does work if you don't have the proper stuff. Lemonade only works I think because of the sugar content.

I found some white roses, dried like this, in an old book recently. They were from Bosworth field in 1984 when I went on a Richard 111 pilgrimage! It really cheered me up, you know, like finding an old photo!

Memories, Make you

Thanks for all you tips,

I tried adding sugar and cut the stems regularly - I think it helped - the flowers lasted for nearly two weeks (they were a mixed bunch and some lasted longer than others).

Max