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DIY: Make Your Own Floral Preservative

atla-030308-flowerpreservative01.jpgWe love flowers. What we don't like: their short life. So we use that little white package of floral preservative that accompanies some bouquets. Containing sugar, for nutrition; bleach, to keep the water free of bacteria; and, citric acid to acidify the water, it keeps our posies looking fresh and beautiful. You can also make your own. Recipe after the jump...

To a vase of warm water, add:

  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon household bleach
  • 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice

Add cut flowers. Keep your arrangement in a cool place, away from heat and sun, and add fresh water daily.


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Comments (6)

Ahhh, lemon/lime juice, that's what I'm missing! I usually just do hydrogen peroxide, sugar, and water. It helps a bit, but not too much... the "flower food" always seems to do a much better job.

posted by sparkle on 2008-03-03 18:25:05
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this is just what i needed! is this appropriate for all types of flowers?

posted by ljh on 2008-03-03 18:34:01
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Thanks for the recipe! I kept reading advice suggesting adding soda to flower water, but I don't drink soda and never have it around!

posted by OneWallKitchen on 2008-03-03 19:20:52
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I wonder if fruit fresh, which is citric acid, would work the same/better than the citrus juice?

posted by GoddessofPurple on 2008-03-03 20:08:02
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i love the two for the road poster in the background!

posted by laraena on 2008-03-03 20:27:10
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Stumbled across a site called My Science Project, with several interesting experiments, one was extending the life of flowers with viagra.

posted by Kate (NC) on 2008-03-04 11:29:23
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