Flower food? How do florists do it?

I've been into arranging flowers lately... found myself buying tons of flowers just to find that it'll only live for about 24 hours before wilting away. How come florists can make wedding centerpieces days in advanced and the flowers can look fabulous the day of the wedding, but my flowers look dead and wilted the day after arranging it?





do florists put something in the flower water? I think i heard from someone that mixing the water 3 parts water 1 part sprite/7 up will help the flowers live longer.





True?

Flower food? How do florists do it?
It all depends on how you cut the stems (woody stems need to be slightly crushed to allow water retention; some stems need to be cut under water, etc.), and how far along in the budding cycle the flowers actually are. If the flowers you're buying don't have many buds, then they'll "pop" and die that much quicker. Also, if you're buying roses, beware of "stripping" - this happens when an unscrupulous seller has roses that have slightly opened, but they strip the lower outside petals off to turn it into a bud again. Look for white at the bottom of the "bud", and the fact that the terminal leaves at the bottom are opened up much further than the "bud". This has been stripped. It'll open that much quicker, because it's NOT a bud.


You could also try chilling the water and flowers before by putting them in the fridge - just like we florists have done for eons. Also, make sure all leaves below the waterline are taken off - it will cause reaction and mold. I myself try not to put anything in the water except professional food; but you can try a half-tab of Alka-Seltzer. Try to avoid anything with heavy sugars, as it can clog delicate flora, and avoid aspirin as it can burn.


Good luck!
Reply:You did not say how you are arranging your flowers, if you are using Florist foam, or some form of vase ??


Florist Foam should be soaked in water for at least 24hrs before you use it for arranging and usually have some kind of water reservoir that it can sit in. You can also buy little water containers that a stem of a flower can go in to put in you're arrangements. Most arrangements need misting if there is no water provided.


Also, you should choose your flowers carefully as some wilt very soon after cutting where others can last days, care should be taken with the cutting of the stems making sure they are clean cut an preferably on an angle.


There a little tricks for all types of flowers.


For instance here where I live, Tulips are now flowering, if you pick them and put them straight into a vase by morning they will be hanging over the sides. If you pick them, wrap their stems in newspaper so they are straight and put them in water over night they will stand straight and tall in the morning for you're arrangement. Do a little research and good luck.
Reply:While a flower is attached to the plant, it receives nourishment allowing it to grow and develop. When cut from the plant, it loses its source of nourishment and water. Fresh Flower Food was developed to simulate the flower's original environment, and allow the flower to fully develop (open).





The key functions of a fresh flower food are:


- Provides food in the form of sugars to keep the flowers alive. Just like ourselves, flowers use carbohydrates as an energy source.


- Helps lower the pH, which keeps the water/food conducting system in flowers working at maximum efficiency.


- Stem unpluggers





Homemade versions such as copper pennies in the water, aspirin, soda, etc., do not contain all of the necessary ingredients vital to sustaining flower life. For the most part, they are ineffective and end up costing you more than fresh flower food.
Reply:A florist I knew used 1 teasp. houshold bleach plus 1 teasp. sugar in the water. The bleach stopped everything going slimy because of bacteria and the sugar acted as a food.
Reply:I have liquid, where do you live I will send you sample product