Preserving cut flowers

[andy]

My very dear nan died last sunday and it's hit my daughter quite hard.

Rather than go to a florist and buy some tacky wreath, me and Katie are going to pick some sweet peas from the garden and put them on her coffin on monday.

I have also picked some roses from work along with a few sprigs of Lavender and some pinks.

Trouble is, how can i get the roses, pinks and lavender to last until monday....any suggestions from you florists ?

Many thanks

Andy

[Plocket]

Oh Andy that's very sad news. My love to your family, especially your daughter.

I'm afraid I thought you meant drying flowers but I think the best you can do is keep the water fresh, and keep snipping off the ends of the flowers. Keep them cool too if possible.

Hopefully someone more in the know will have some better advice for you.

[Rosefriend]

Keeping flowers fresh - I know of a few tricks.

Teaspoon of bleach - never tried it myself

Aspirin - yes it works

Sugar cube - mostly Tulips

Roses - aspirin and never use ice cold water - tepid

Fizzy Water

Soda water

Teaspoon of Lemon or lime juice

A Penny in the water.

As it is for an important occasion , you don't really have time to try them out, - but keeping the flowers cool is a must and for the roses I would not use cold water, tepid water is better and add an aspirin.

Also changing the water every day. On the day wrapping the stems in soaked newspaper and then popping a plastic bag over the stems and adding water to the bag as well. I did this on the way to a funeral 6 hours away and they were very fresh when I got there.

However perhaps there are better ways.

RF

[Deleted]

Hi Andy

My sympathies to you and your family.

I have tried the teaspoon of bleach trick and it did seem to work but I can't remember which cut flowers it was with.

I usually only use tepid water when I'm putting cut flowers in a vase. And until I do that I keep them as cool as possible. I wish I knew what was on those little sachets of flower 'food' you get from florists!!

Just wondering if you could get Katie to arrange them in a block of oasis (the green stuff you get from florists and soak in water) and maybe put the oasis arrangement into a little basket, with the flowers you have picked it would look quite pretty and like it had just come from a cottage garden.

[Chuckles]

So sorry to hear your sad news Andy.

What a lovely idea to do your own flowers, such a lovely thought and it will make them really special too. I would go with keeping them as cool as possible and also out of direct sun light might help too. I'm sure what ever you do they will be wonderful and your Nan will think so too.