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How to Keep Orchids Fresh When Cut
How to Keep Orchids Fresh When Cut. More than 35,000 orchid species exist and these delicate flowers are recognized as a symbol of beauty and love. Whether you cut orchids from your own greenhouse or received them as a gift, keeping the attractive blooms looking their best requires a flower preservative. By making one of these homemade...
More than 35,000 orchid species exist and these delicate flowers are recognized as a symbol of beauty and love. Whether you cut orchids from your own greenhouse or received them as a gift, keeping the attractive blooms looking their best requires a flower preservative. By making one of these homemade preservatives you can help the blooms retain their fresh look and fragrance longer.
Things You'll Need
Liquid dishwashing detergent
Flower vase
Pruning shears or sharp knife
2-qt. pitcher or other container
Sugar
Chlorine bleach
Water
Lemon or lime juice
Lemon-lime carbonated beverage
Hydrogen peroxide
Bleach Mixture
Wash a vase with warm, soapy water to ensure it is clean and contains no bacteria.
Cut the orchid stem on a diagonal with pruning shears or a sharp knife. Don't use scissors as they can crush the stem and affect the flower's water intake.
Add 1 tsp. each of sugar and chlorine bleach to 1 qt. of lukewarm water in a 2-qt. pitcher. Squeeze a fresh lemon or lime and add 2 tsp. of the juice to the mixture.
Fill the flower vase with enough of the preservative solution to cover half the stem lengths.
Replenish the water level once it goes down. This helps keep the orchids looking their best.
Lemon-Lime Mixture
Wash a flower vase thoroughly and dry it.
Pour one can of lemon-lime carbonated beverage into a 2-qt. pitcher. Add 1 tbsp. of sugar, approximately seven or eight drops of hydrogen peroxide and 1 liter of lukewarm water into the pitcher.
Cut the orchid stem on a diagonal and place it into the flower vase.
Fill the vase with the preservative mixture until it is halfway up the orchid stems. Cover the container and reserve any remaining solution to refill the vase.
Check the water level every couple of days and replenish it with the reserved preservative.
Tips & Warnings
If the orchid starts to wilt or go limp, cut the stem again on a diagonal. Wilting means it is not getting the proper hydration.
