How to Care for Hyacinths, Tulips & Daffodils

After a long drab winter, spring flowering bulbs bring welcome color to the garden landscape. Hyacinths, daffodils and tulips bloom as early as April, even before deciduous trees sprout leaves. Cutting bouquets and bringing them indoors brightens the home environment and lightens emotional well being, according to a behavioral research study conducted at Rutgers State University of New Jersey. A little extra care at the time of cutting will keep cut flowers looking beautiful longer.

Bucket
Cold water
Non-serrated knife
Vase
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. bleach
Long spoon

Instructions

- 1
  
  Gather flowers in the morning when they are filled with stored food and are most fragrant.
  
  Fill a bucket one-third full of cold water. Use a separate bucket for daffodils because their stems emit a compound that is toxic to other flowers. Gather flowers in the morning when they are filled with stored food and are most fragrant. Choose flowers in bud, not fully opened blooms.
- 2
  Cut the stems on a slant with a sharp non-serrated knife. Submerge immediately into cold water. Cutting on a slant exposes more stem surface area for absorption of water. Remove leaves that fall below the water.
- 3
  
  Clean glass containers are ideal for fresh flowers.
  
  Choose a vase about half the height of your cut stems for best display. Clean glass, pottery or porcelain vases are ideal. Avoid metal containers because some metals can alter the pH of the water, which in turn shortens flower life.
- 4
  
  Lemon adds acidity to neutralize the pH of the water.
  
  Add 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. bleach to the vase. Fill with water the same temperature of the water in bucket, to within 2 inches of the vase top. Stir to mix and dissolve the ingredients. The citrus adds acidity, which makes the pH of the water more near the acid pH of the flower. Most water supplies are alkaline and can diminish the life of fresh flowers. The acidifier also stabilizes the color of the flower. Bleach acts as a microorganism growth inhibitor, minimizing bacteria and fungi that would otherwise enter the cut surface of the stem and multiply. Sugar supplies energy to the cut flower parts.
- 5
  
  Change the vase water every two days for optimum flower life.
  
  Add cut flowers to the vase, one by one from the bucket of water. Allow room between the flowers so as not to damage petals. Change the water completely every two days for optimum flower life. Display out of direct sunlight.

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