My Page
My Cookbooks
  • Main Cookbook
    Premium Members can have more than one cookbook in this list. They can keep private cookbooks just for organizing their recipes, or share them publicly with friends or the world. Learn more
My Account
Bookmark and Share

Add this recipe to your:

Send this recipe:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 quart 1003g

Recipe makes 1 quart)

The following items or measurements are not included below:

bleach

Calories 103
Calories from Fat 0 (0%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 0.0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 20mg 0%
Potassium 22mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 25.5g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g 0%
Sugars 25.3g
Protein 0.0g 0%

how is this calculated?

Cut Flower Preservative #3

Recipe #391779 | 5 min | 5 min prep | add private note
Dreamer in Ontario

By: Dreamer in Ontario
Sep 25, 2009

I stumbled across this recipe for making your own flower preservative on About.com today. TIPS: To keep your cut flowers fresh you need to give them water & food, protect them from decay or infection plus keep them cool and out of direct sunlight. Try to keep your flowers away from ripe fruit as the gases will shorten their life. Keep them in a cool area and away from direct sunlight. Flowers with milky latex-containing sap such as poinsettia, heliotrope, hollyhock, euphorbia and poppy need special treatment The milky sap prevents water loss by the stem but in cut flowers it prevents the absorption of water. To prevent this problem dip the bottom tips (--1/2 inch) of the stems in boiling water for about 30 seconds or by flashing the tips of the stems with a lighter or other flame.

1 quart (change servings and units)

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon bleach, household
  • 1 quart warm water (tap water ok but if it's high in salts and fluorides distilled is better)

Directions

  1. 1
    Discard decaying leaves & flowers and any foliage which would be below the water line plus any unnecessary leaves.
  2. 2
    Trim bottom ends of flower stems by cutting on an angle to maximize the surface area for water and to prevent the ends from resting flat on the bottom of the vase.
  3. 3
    Mix all 3 ingredients being sure to use warm water (100-110F or 38-40C) as it will move up the stems more effectively than cold water then add flowers.

Questions about this recipe?

Spot an error in this recipe?

Browse similar recipes by category

Featured Reviews for This Recipe

reviewer icon

From: ~Rita~

On Oct 20, 2009

After doing your first recipe which was the same as my Take Time to Smell the Roses - Cut Flower Enhancer, Extender. I wanted to do one of your other choices. In the picture are some of the flowers from the Take Time to Smell the Roses - Cut Flower Enhancer, Extender in the small vase in front of the main vase. Take note that was from Sept 29 and they are still going strong. I do like the aroma of the lemon better then the vinegar. So far all is good. I will be back to update on how long these made it. Thanks!

0 people found this review helpful

  • Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
  • Read all 1 reviews

    Sister Sites: Food Network | HGTV | HGTVPro | DIY | Fine Living | Great American Country | FrontDoor.com Real Estate | Ecologue

    Comparison Shop for Kitchen Appliances & Utensils at Shopzilla & BizRate

    © 2009 Scripps Networks, Inc. All rights reserved