How to Preserve Cut Flowers With Sugar

The secret elixir that comes in packets from the florist to use in bouquets and other floral arrangements contains the basic elements that preserve cut flowers. The University of Massachusetts Floriculture website advises flower growers to recommend homemade cut-flower preservative formulas to their customers. These formulas contain simple ingredients for preserving flowers. Floral preservative is also called floral food. Sugar, as either table sugar or non-diet citrus soft drinks, provides carbohydrates to nourish the cut flowers and help keep them alive. Learn the proportion of ingredients to make your own inexpensive flower preservative at home.

Table sugar
Plain household bleach
Fresh lemons or limes
Measuring spoons
Juicer
Lukewarm water
Long-handled mixing spoon
Jar or vase---1 quart or larger

Instructions

- 1
  Squeeze the juice of fresh lemons or limes to obtain two tablespoons of juice. Depending on the size of the fruit, one lemon or two limes should be enough.
- 2
  Add a quart of lukewarm tap water to a jar or vase. Use cold water for bulb flowers. If it's a mixed bouquet of both bulb blooms and other flowers, use cool water.
- 3
  Add 1 tablespoon of regular table sugar to the water and dissolve it by stirring with a spoon. Add a ½ tablespoon of household bleach. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice.
- 4
  Stir gently to mix the sugar and other ingredients. Put the cut flowers in the container.
- 5
  Change the water at least every other day. Wash the vase and follow Step 3 to add a new batch of cut-flower sugar and preservative. Change the water daily in warm weather to keep the cut flowers at their best.

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