How to Keep Them Fresh

Submitted by Beverly Williams

Plant materials used in a design should always be fresh, clean and crisp!
Proper conditioning of plant material is crucial.
Conditioning: the treatment given to plant material before it is placed in a design.

Means: soaking in deep water for several hours or overnight in a cool, dark place away from drafts or heat.
• Take clean pail of tepid or room temperature water to garden when cutting.
• Use clean, sharp shears or a knife. Never use scissors or anything dull.
• Cut stems on a slant.
• Best cut in late afternoon or early evening but early morning is suitable.
• Avoid cutting new growth.
• Immediately recut stems indoors on a slant; return to deep, cool water. Remove all foliage below the water.
• Clean foliage material by swishing in barely warm water with mild detergent; rinse and drain. Do not submerge delicate or fuzzy foliage.
• Store for several hours or overnight in a cool, dark place away from drafts or heat.
• Spray flower blooms and foliage with fine mist of cool water before and after they are placed in design.

Woody stems: scrape, crush or split one to two inches at base. Milky or watery stems: Sear cut end over flame until they glow (protect bloom from heat), then immediately plunge into cool water OR immerse ends in boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunge into cool water. SEAR THE STEMS THE LENGTH NEEDED IN THE DESIGN, or treatment will have to be repeated.

Reviving wilted flowers:
Recut stems and place in two inches of boiling water for five seconds, and then immediately in cold water, leaving overnight if possible.

HOMEMADE FLOWER PRESERVATIVE:
One-gallon warm water, 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice, 1 TBSP sugar, and 1 Tsp chlorine bleach.