MAKE FLOWERS LAST

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 666, 19 October 1933, Page 6

MAKE FLOWERS LAST

A FEW SIMPLE RULES. THEIR FAV10URITE STIMULANTS I Keeping cut fresh fiowers is a seri- ! ious problem, but by observing a few is-imple rules and by giving the fiowers their favourite stimulants, days can; he added to their table life. The water in which the fiowers are kept should be changed daily, even if a pieee of charcoal is kept in the vase. Although the charcoal absorbs impurities it ciannot replenish the oxygen the fiowers have used. In addition, about half an dnch of stem .should be nemievoed from each stem daily. Making slanting cuts instead of square cuts, or the flower will quickly droop. Foliage should not he allowed to touch the water. Nothing vitiates water eo quickly ias immersed leaves or loose petals. Aspirin will prolong the table life of dahlias and chry.santbemums for •several days, but on most other fiowers its effect iis negligible. The right "dose" ds about one grain to every quart of water. Carnations fliourish in a very weak solutt/iotn of boric /acid. Not m'ore than a teaspoonful should be added to a gallon of water. The rule as to daily changing of water may be reHaxed when this treatment is adopted. Carnations in weak boric acid will outlast simdlar fiowers in plain water by three or four days. Asters have! a sweet tooth. Their lasting power is markedly increased if a teaspoonful of sugar is added to every quart of water used. Nearly all fiowers keep better if a crystal of permanganate of potash is added to the water. There is no question ' of f eeding or stimulation here. The permanganate acts in much the same way as a piece of charcoal except that, while charcoal is merely a ■paissive disinfectant, permanganate of potash is a fairly active one.