What is Flower Food?

Even flowers require sustenance to help them maintain optimal health. Using fresh flower food, as a source of nutrition is an excellent way to replenish lost nutrients and keep cut flowers alive, increasing their vase-life. Some florists report that flowers may live fifty percent longer after being fed with fresh flower food.

Fresh flower food includes sugary substances which provide nutrients to help flowers stay healthy and encourage them to hold their color and continue blooming. Cut flowers thrive with the addition of this plant nutrients and buds bloom fully maintaining their hue and retaining moisture. The addition of acids to the flower food mixture helps maintain proper pH levels. Certain flower food mixtures contain additives to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria, which shorten flower life.

Numerous flower food products are available for purchase, although some may be quite costly. However, as an alternative, some people choose to make their own flower food. It is as easy as adding a teaspoon of sugar to a pint of water. Add an additional teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to manage the pH levels and a teaspoon of bleach to control the growth of bacteria. Pour the homemade flower food mixture in a vase and add cut flowers. Water with this mixture as needed.

In addition to feeding flowers with plant food, there are several tips that help prolong the life of flowers. To ensure flower stems are healthy and hold as much water as possible, cut them in the early hours of the day before it becomes too hot. Cut stems at an angle to help them absorb as much water as possible. Choosing flowers whose buds are only partly open helps prolong vase life and bloom color. Keep fresh cut flowers out of direct sunlight and provide them with a cooler place to sit to extend their lives rather than in a bright, sunny window. Water with fresh flower food every few days discarding the old water. Crush or re-cut stems every few days to stimulate the flowers into drawing more water and nutrients from the freshly added flower food.

Caring properly for flowers and adding flower food will provide beautiful blooms and long life for all types of cut flowers.