Tips for Preserving Cut Flowers

Cut flowers in early morning or after sundown. Cut in bud when possible, with slanted stems. Put in water immediately and condition overnight for best results (not longer). Strip foliage up at least 2" to 4". For burning, use solid alcohol or gas burner; wrap flower heads in towel or with a paper cornucopia. Pound woody stems (hydrangeas, lilacs, etc.) up about 2".

The following quantity of "conditioners" may be added to one quart of water for longer life:

Acacia - Dip end of stems in rubbing alcohol

Achillea - 1 Tbs. table salt

Aconitum - 1/4 cup vinegar

Alyssum- 1/2 Tbs. sugar

Amaryllis - 2 Tsp. kitchen ammonia

Anemone - 1 cup vinegar

Apple Blossoms- Crush stems - 1 Tbs. ammonia

Aquilegia- 10 drops peppermint oil

Asclepias- 2 Tsp. sugar in iced water

Asters and all family members- 2 Tbs. sugar - 1 Tbs. salt

Bamboo- Boil end of stem in vinegar then put in saltwater and let stand

Begonias- 1 Tbs. salt - or dip stem in rubbing alcohol

Caladium and Cyclamen- Water plants well before picking. Pull cyclamen flowers, don't cut. Burn ends.

Campanula- 1 Tbs. washing soda

Carnations- Cold water up to flower heads

Chrysanthemum - 5 drops oil of cloves or 1 Tbs. of sugar

Clematis- 1 Tbs. alcohol, pinch soda

Coreopsis- 1 Tbs. table salt

Cosmos- 1 Tsp. sugar

Dahlia- Burn end of stem, 2 Tbs. alcohol

Daisies- 8 drops oil of peppermint

Delphinium- 2 Tbs. alcohol

Dianthus- Cool water up to flower heads

Digitalis- 2 Tbs. alcohol

Evergreens (all)- 1 Tbs. glycerin

Fern- Submerge underwater 12 hours – when ready to use, shake well

Forget-me-nots- Plunge in hot, then cold water with 16 drops of alcohol

Funkia & foliage- 1 cup vinegar

Gaillardia- 4 Tbs. salt

Gardenias and Camellias- Wrap in wet tissue overnight. These never drink after cutting.

Gladioli - 5 Tbs. vinegar

Grape Hyacinths- 16 drops alcohol

Gypsophila- 2 Tsp. alcohol

Hollyhocks - 1/2 cup rock salt or 1 Tsp. oil of peppermint to glass of water.

Hyacinths- Squeeze substance from stem, then plunge into water w/5 drops oil of peppermint

Iris- 3 drops oil of peppermint

Larkspur- 2 Tbs. alcohol

Lilacs- Pound stems − never pull green leaf off near flower. It is water conductor to bloom.

Lilies (Easter, Regal, Hanseni, Grandiflorum, Henryi, or Calla)- 1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbs. sugar

Lily-of-the-Valley- 1 cup vinegar

Marigolds- 2 Tbs. sugar and 1 Tbs. salt

Milkweed- Burn ends of stem, 1/2 cup rock salt

Narcissi and members of family- Small quantities of water – only 1”

Peonies- 3 Tbs. sugar

Petunias- 1/2 cup rock salt, burn ends of stem

Poinsettias - 1/2 cup rock salt, burn ends of stem

Roses (all types)- 2 Tbs. powdered alum or 2 Tbs. salt

Salvia- 1/2 Tbs. alcohol

Snapdragon- 1 Tbs. salt

Statice- 3 Tbs. sugar

Stock - Sugar or molasses. To curve stems after hardening, allow to lie in warm room until limp, then put in cold water and they will hold curve

Sweet Peas- Plunge into hot, then cold water with 16 drops of alcohol

Tritoma- 1/2 cup vinegar

Tulips- Dip stems in rubbing alcohol, roll in newspaper before putting in deep cold water

Violets and Pansies (Bunch)- Submerge for 1 hour, then place in ice water

Violas- Treat like violets

Water Lilies and Lotus- 24 drops of alcohol