How To Make Flowers Last

The tips are:

• Keep the flowers out of reach for children
• Cut the stems on an angle to make sure the capillaries are wide open to take up water
• Remove all leaves below the water line
• Keep water in the vase
• If there was no flower food packet included, add a crushed aspirin and some sugar to the water
• When the flowers begin to fade, re-purpose the rest of the bouquet

The day after Valentine's Day, flower bouquets from sweethearts around the world begin to fade. A rose's vibrant red dulls to dried-out brown, and flowers begin to droop. Some say adding a citrus-flavored soda, such as 7-Up or Sprite, or an alcohol like vodka to the vase of water will lengthen the time these flowers remain beautiful. According to floriculturists, they are right; if the mixture of soda and water is in the correct proportion, a bouquet will remain bright, because the combination provides the flowers with the water and food they need.