Keeping Cut Flower Fresh

Here's a tip to keep cut flower fresh from the flower vender at the Union Square farmer's market:

Start with a clean vase: Sterilize your vase prior to use. The build up of bacteria can cause your flowers to breakdown much faster than they may naturally.

Clean foliage from stems that will be submerged in water. Ethylene gas submitted from foliage, as it break down in water, can cause flower heads to wilt.

Rinse vase with cool to lukewarm water. Flowers, like people, tend to absorb water more effectively if it is not ice cold.

Cut stem ends at an angle, 1/4" to 1/2" from the bottom, and immediately submerge in water. An angled cut allows for more surface area from which flowers may drink. Repeat entire process every 2-3 days.

Along with the basics, adding a couple drops of bleach and some 7UP or Sprite can help to keep your field cut flowers brighter and longer. Keep in mind that your flowers can be adversely affected by heat, by cold, by wind and by smoke.