Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.
Get the most from your floral investment. Proper selection and care insure your cut flowers will provide many days of enjoyment.
Spend a bit of time picking the freshest flowers possible. A whiff of the water will let you know if the flowers are fresh and have been properly tended.
Look for upright and perky flowers with lots of firm buds that are just starting to open. Avoid cut flowers with drooping discolored leaves and slimy stems.
Make sure the florist wraps your flowers to protect the blooms from extreme temperatures and jostling during the ride home.
Remove the lower leaves so just leafless stems are sitting in the water. You’ll eliminate bacterial growth that can shorten the vase life of your cut flowers.
Recut the stems and arrange your blossoms in a clean vase filled with fresh water and floral preservative.
And finally, keep your cut flowers in a cool draft free location to further extend your enjoyment.
A bit more information: Don’t let tight budgets stop you from giving and enjoying cut flowers. A single rose in a bud vase or large bloom floating in a shallow vase can bring a bit of beauty and lots of enjoyment to you or the recipient.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com.