Dear Bridget, I received flowers from my boyfriend for valentines day, and I wanted to be able to keep them forever, so I decided to press them so that I could put them in a scrapbook someday. (I think they were daisies (they were pink) and carnations) The ones that I thought were daisies kept their color, but the petals tended to fall off. The carnations didn't work, which I almost expected.

All together I only got about 4 or 5 flowers out of over a dozen. Now for my birthday the other day, he got me flowers again, and I want to press these so I could put these into a scrapbook. What is the best way to do this? (there are white and yellow daisies, pink carnations, and baby's breath) Is there a way to preserve them so that I can keep them in a scrapbook? Thank you!

Ashley - Dartmouth, MA

Ashley, Preserving fresh flowers is a challenge. The petals do tend to fall off once the flower is dry but gets disturbed. Pressing works well for flatter flowers, like pansies and gerbera daises. Those you could press in a scrap book. You can spray a fixative (like hair spray) lightly on them and then allow the flower to dry without anything touching it. That can help the petals stay in place.

Once dry, add to the scrapbook. For thicker flowers, like roses and carnations, you can dry them upside down in a cool, dark location or preserve them in silica gel. They won't fit in a scrapbook very well, but could be put in a shadow box. Clemson University has a great fact sheet on how to do each process.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How can I get rid of tiny flying bugs in my outdoor flowers? And, what causes this to happen?

Lillian

Lillian, The first step to getting rid of pesky insects is to identify them correctly. Can you catch one in a bag or jar? If they are very small, can you get one on a piece of clear tape? I'm not sure where you live, but your local garden center would be a place to start with help on the identification. After that, you can determine some alternative solutions.

Can the insects be hand-picked off? I do this with Japanese beetles on my roses and it works pretty well. Can the affected plant parts be pruned and removed (discarded not used for mulch)? That's another relatively easy solution. Are there other treatments and what are the undesirable effects of those? How affordable and easy-to-apply are they? So, first get a good consult on what the pesky rascals are, then look at some alternatives to sending them packing.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, When tulips finish flowering, what should you do next? Look forward to your reply.

Steve Davey - Hamilton, UK

Steve, Tulips need some time to grow after flowering, so the bulb has enough energy to emerge and produce a flower next year. You can fertilize them with a small dose of fertilizer, following the package directions. One application of a liquid feed at the low rate listed on the label should be sufficient. Then, just allow them to die back naturally. The foliage will first turn yellow then crispy brown. Wait as long as you can until the bulb foliage has dried before you remove it. If the foliage has started to turn yellow, don't fertilize until after they have flowered next year. The common mistake most people make is to remove the foliage before it dies back naturally, then the bulbs don't perform well next year.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How can I use white poinsettias in cut arrangements for wedding table décor? Most likely we will need to simply lay some cut poinsettias on the table at the base of a hurricane lamp. This is a Dec. 13 wedding in the Florida Keys on the beach.

Also, can I find white poinsettias that are more white than the greenish white I found last season?

Wanda - Sanfrod, FL

Wanda, Most poinsettias aren't stark white but tend to be more creamy white. Most have a cultivar (cultivated variety) name that should appear on the tag. Cultivars are like apple names (Red Delicious, Gala, Rome). Some apples are good for cooking while others are good for eating. So, there is a new poinsettia cultivar that is new this year called 'Enduring' that looks whiter than 'Freedom' (which you are most likely to see) or Peterstar (which you may see). The more popular white cultivars are shown here. I'd suggest you contact some floral retailers and ask what cultivar they are likely to get and when. Odds are high it is Freedom which is white, but creamy.

You could order one plant per table/hurricane lamp. The morning of the wedding, you can cut each bloom off the plant. They should have 3-5 blooms per plant. Each stem will need to be heat sealed to prevent the laytex (white sap) from leaking out. You can do this with a lighter, but use caution. It will take you some time to seal each bloom, so get some help. I'd also encourage you to do a trial run the day before so you see what you'll need to do. You can then lay the sealed stem on the cloth at the base of the hurricane, once the seal dries.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My son is getting married the first of July. They have chosen Teal and Black for their main colors. we had first decided on Gerber Daises for their flower when they were going with the bright bold colors. now that they have changed to teal, what kind of flowers can we use? I would like to put the flowers in dye and have them absorb the color. Will that work and how long before the wedding would you have to do it?

Kim - Riverton, UT

Kim, Teal flowers will be a challenge to create. There really aren't any naturally occurring teal-colored flowers, so you will need to create them yourself. I'm a bit concerned about instructing you to use a dye the flowers take up for two reasons. First, this will be a tough color to make and second, it may take a long time to get the color intensity you desire. Therefore, I'm going to recommend you spray paint the flowers just a day or two ahead of the ceremony. You can find floral paints at a variety of places, both on-line and in stores.

I'd use white flowers only, to get a similar result. You could use roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids or any other white flower. Wear a disposable glove when you paint them. Do a trial run to hold the container the distance from the flower that produces the color intensity you desire. Be sure to keep the flowers well hydrated in a solution of water and floral preservative and keep them as cool as possible (down to 45°F).
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm planning on doing my own flowers for my upcoming wedding, June 8th and I wondered if you had any tips on ordering wholesale. My plan is to be as simple as possible, roses and gerber daisies are the main flowers and I have chosen just lily grass and hypericum berries as the fillers/greens. I have researched a lot about flower care, but since I haven't done this before.

I'm looking for as many tips as possible. I'm ordering from amazonflowers.us and they deliver on Thursdays, my wedding is on a Sunday. I have found save-on-crafts.com and weddingflowersandmore.com for floral supplies. Any tips, advice or info would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Ashley - Topeka, KS

Ashley, Get some clean buckets (or wash old ones well with soap and water to remove any cleaning residue from prior jobs) and buy some floral preservative. Before the flowers arrive, read the directions on the preservative label and mix enough solution to fill the buckets with 2-3 inches.

When the flowers arrive, fill your sink about 1/2 full with water. Cut every stem under water, removing about an inch off the bottom with a sharp knife or pruners. Pull off any foliage that will be in the floral solution and then immediately put the freshly-cut stems in the buckets.

Find the coolest place in your home, preferably a basement floor. Keep the flowers as cool as possible for as long as possible. Arrange them the morning of the wedding. If you're doing some hand-tied bouquets, you can do those the day before and put the stem ends back into a fresh bucket of solution after you've made another fresh cut. I wish you a wonderful day!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I've noticed in several of your responses you have suggested spray painting to get a desired color for flowers. What products do you suggest using? How does this affect the health of the flowers? How far in advance should this procedure be done before your event?

Kim - West Point, MS

Kim, For people who want specific flower colors, dying might not produce the desired effect, so spray paint is the best alternative. There are some floral spray paints available from floral supply stores like Floral Supply.com. They will reduce the life of the flower somewhat, but the paint should not be applied until the day before the event.

If you purchase white flowers and handle them well (recut stems under water, remove foliage that may fall below the water line, use preservative, keep them cool) and apply a light coat of spray (wear disposable gloves so you don't paint your hands), you'll get the desired color and won't hurt the flower much. Spray painted white carnations might last a few days, whereas non-painted carnations can last up to two weeks.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project and I am interested in flower preservation. Do you have any comments or helpful advice? Thank you.

Lily

Lily, Clemson University has a great website that discusses how to preserve flowers. Try to match the flower type to the best preservation method. Pressing works well for thin flowers. Hanging upside down works well for bunches of flowers with big flower heads. Silica gel works well for smaller, thicker flowers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am currently planning a wedding reception for September. I am looking to use flowers submerged in water for the centerpieces. What types of flowers can be used for this? The color theme is purple. Thanks.

Denise

Denise, You can use a variety of flowers submerged in a vase. I will encourage you to do some experimentation with different flowers to see what works best for your situation. The flower will need to be anchored in some way or it will float to the surface. If the containers are disposable, you can anchor the flower with hot glue.

There are 'frogs' or instruments that you can use to anchor the flower to the bottom of the container. These implements are heavy, and weight the flower down. Clear marbles in the bottom can serve as a anchor as well. Insert the stem into the marbles. You can use many kinds of flowers submerged in the vase, but do some testing to see if you like the look. Another way to keep the flower submerged is to use clear cellophane over the submerged blooms and then add more water.

For purple flowers, you could use roses, carnations, or chrysanthemums. You can coordinate the flowers in the vases with those in the bouquets.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Why does a colour dye in water have an effect on the flower?

Michelle

Michelle, Dye dissolved in water and put in a vase solution doesn't extend the life of flowers. It has no sugar (energy source), so it really doesn't do much other than color the flower petals. The dye is easily taken up with water and the dye or pigment is deposited at the tip of the petal as water exits the petal tissue in the process of transpiration. So, you literally 'see' the dye through the colorless petals. What you see is the xylem or water conducting tissue.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Can you explain how Listerine mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, soda, and milk affect the life of cut flowers? What kind of soda should I use? How much of each liquid should I put in the water? Thank you!

Vicki

Vicki, Several home remedies are popular among consumers, but none extend vaselife as well as a commercial preservative dissolved in a measured amount of water. In addition to water, flowers need an energy source, usually sugar, since there aren't enough leaves to produce enough energy from photosynthesis. They also benefit from a acid component in the solution, which helps the flower take up water and reduces the growth of stem-clogging bacteria and fungi.

So, mouthwash may have sugar as an ingredient but it often also has alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to flowers and will reduce vaselife. Rubbing alcohol should have a similar result. Soda is water with sugar and is also slightly acidic, so it may extend flower life the longest. Milk has lactose and water, but won't help floral life much if at all. Use any soda that isn't diet since the diet drinks don't contain sugar.

You could use one cup of water in each drinking glass or vase and add to that a tablespoon of each ingredient. Also, check out our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #1. It will give you some more assistance.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am planning on doing a science fair project for my 3rd grade class. My question will be "What water temperature will change the color of the carnation the fastest? I am going to put food coloring in a vase and see which temperature turns the carnation that color the fastest. I am going to use refrig. temp, room temp, and hot water. What color do you recommend?

Mitchell - Rushmore, MN

Mitchell, Great experiment! Heat is a catalyst, so hot water should show the color change fastest, followed by room temperature then cold water. Be sure to use a concentrated food dye and a floral preservative in the water of each vase. I'd also encourage you to use the same color dye, since we do see differences in uptake by dye color. Check out our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #3. It should give you some additional insight.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I will be doing a science project for my son's kindergarten class for Valentine's Day and I wanted to dye carnations. When I went to the florist, she kindly told me that flowers already in water don't work as well and that I needed "dry" flowers that have not absorbed water yet. Do you think dry flowers work better and if so, how long do I have to get them from the florist to the class before they wilt?

Laurie - Montclair, NJ

Laurie, Well, carnations are often shipped dry and then take up a lot of water being rehydrated. I believe you can still do the experiment well with flowers already rehydrated. Be sure to get or purchase some floral food, and mix it with water according to the package directions (measure the volume). Use hot water, about 110°F (hot enough for a shower or bath, but not too hot to scald skin).

Pour the water and preservative into vases, but only add about a cup of the mixture to the vase. To that, add an entire container of food dye. The warm water will accelerate the uptake of water and dye, speeding up the reaction. You can read more about the process at our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #3.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What is in flower preservatives, (The ones that the florists give to you) and what do flowers need to live?

Kyle - Vancouver, Canada

Kyle, Most flower preservative companies guard their ingredient list as a secret. I do know that most contain a sugar (often sucrose) and a biocide. The biocide lowers the solution pH which helps water be taken up more easily and reduces the growth of stem-clogging bacteria and fungi.

What do flowers need to live? They need water, first and foremost. Second, they need a sugar source to provide energy for the still developing flower. But that sugar can increase the growth of unwanted organisms like bacteria and fungi that can clog the stem, preventing water and energy from being taken up. Most home remedies (like the ones listed at our Flower Activity Center don't work as well as a commercial preservative. The big challenge for home remedies is getting the ingredients into the solutions in the right proportions.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How can the florist ensure that the conditions are ideal for photosynthesis to take place?

Joyce - Selby - North Yorks, UK

Joyce, For fresh flowers, it is more important to have the right temperature, relative humidity, and use the correct proportion of floral food in solution. Flowers don't have enough leaves to produce sufficient energy for the bloom to continue to grow and develop. For flowering plants, photosynthesis is still producing energy for the plant. Sunlight becomes the limiting factor.

Human eyes adjust to the light level, but plants respond by not producing enough energy. A floral professional can use grow light which give off a higher intensity light and the right light spectrum. It is critical to keep flowering plants close to the light (as recommended by the manufacturer) so they do get sufficient light. The florist can use a light meter to see how intense the light is ata given distance from the light source. There are tables constructed to show you how much light selected plants need.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing research and would like to start a flower business in the near future. Flower Posssibilities was a very good source, thanks for your informative website. What does eheylene sensitive mean and how does it affect working with flowers, what would it mean to me?

Thank you for taking your time to respond.
-  Esther - Brooklyn, NY

Esther, We're glad you find our site helpful! Ethylene is a colorless, odorless gas that is a natural plant hormone that stimulates ripening. Apples and bananas give off ethylene and ethylene is the "gas" used to turn green bananas ripe. Ethylene is great for ripening fruit, but is toxic to flowers. Flowers begin to die rapidly in the presence of ethylene, a process called senesence.

The problem with ethylene is that only a little is needed to start a chain reaction of producing more ethylene. A flower exposed to ethylene will begin to produce ethylene itself and accelerate the process of death. Some flowers that are ethylene sensitive (like alstromeria, lilies, and carnations) are treated with chemicals to prevent the chain reaction of ethylene production from snowballing.

Fruit should not be stored with flowers to prevent ethylene from reaching the blooms. You'll be storing ethylene sensitive flowers along side other flowers that are less sensitive, but that doesn't mean they are immune. Remove dying flowers or decaying foliage, another source of ethylene, from the cooler. Keep the air circulating to keep blooms and foliage dry, so they don't begin to decay (a source of ethylene).

Develop a good relationship with your wholesaler so s/he can help you understand which flowers are sensitive and how they've been treated to prevent the effects of ethylene accelerating their demise.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am the maid of honour for my sisters winter wedding in january and one of my jobs is to sort out the flowers. The thing is, I live near London and her wedding is taking place in Scotland and i have to transport the flowers up there myself which is a 12 hour drive. I will be picking up the flowers on the Thursday and she marries on the saturday. I was wanting to know, firstly how do i transport the flowers without damaging them and secondly, How do i prevent them from deteriorating?

If it helps, so you know how to advise, the flowers being transported are roses, chysanthemums, heather and corsages made from stephanotis.

I would appriciate any advise that you could give me. Many Thanks.
-  Stephanie - Hemel Hempstead, UK

Stephanie, You'll want to drive without the heater on very warm, so your car stays cool inside. In January, you should have no trouble keeping the car cool, but you may be a little uncomfortable. Keep the corsages and any other "prepared" flowers in their plastic bags in which they'll likely be enclosed. Pack a cooler with ice on the bottom and a layer of newspaper or cardboard in between the ice and the corsages and other designed flowers. This will keep them at a cool temperature for the ride up.

The unprepared flowers should be transported in buckets with water mixed with floral food/preservative. Purchase some plastic buckets and fill them approximately 1/4 to 1/3 with water and a measured amount of floral preservative (following the directions). Re-cut the stems under water (in your home sink, before you leave) to remove about an inch and re-start the flow of water up the stem. Remove any leaves that may fall below the water line.

Keep them in water and preservative, and cool, until the wedding. Don't leave them overnight in the car if the temperature will fall below 0°C, since the blooms can brown and show cold damage. Ideally, you'd like to transport and store them at 1° to 2° C.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Well how does sugar water affect plant growth?
-  Tessa - Cambridge, MN

Tessa, Plants have a miraculous process called photosynthesis in which they chemically change water and sunlight into sugar. Those simple sugars are the energy and the building blocks for all the structures in the plant, including flowers. So, plants don't need sugar, but they do need nutrients and sunlight. The key or macro nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium or NPK that we see on the fertilizer label.

Green plants are the only things on the planet that produce their own food, so it is a fascinating process. Once cut from the plant, however, cut flowers don't have enough leaves to produce their own food (or photosynthesize), so they do need an energy source. Consumers sometimes mistakenly add sugar to vase water, hoping it will extend the vase-life of the flowers. The problem with this is that the sugar also stimulates the growth of bacteria and fungi and these clog the water uptake, essentially shortening the life of the flower.

Commercial floral preservatives, or floral foods, have a balance of sugar and biocide and do help extend the life of cut flowers. So, don't add sugar to vase water or to plants, but do use recommended amounts of fertilizer (on plants) and floral food (for flowers).
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Fruit flies are infesting my gardenia tree what can I do to get rid of them?
-  Kim - Buffalo, NY

Kim, They may be aphids, not fruit flies. Can you capture one or two on a piece of tape and take that to your local garden center? Most professionals there can recommend some controls. The important thing to remember about insect control is to follow the label, making applications at the recommended intervals. Many folks make one treatment and that may kill all the adults. But, you need to go back as the label indicates to kill successive generations of adults. That may mean you go back in 5 or 7 days. But do be sure to follow the package directions.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Why do roses have thorns? What is the purpose of thorns? If I remove the thorns from the roses, do the roses die faster?
-  Michelle

Michelle, Thorns are modified leaves (believe it or not). Their purpose is to protect the plant from being eaten. Animals tend to steer clear of the painful thorns, so they do a good job. I don't advocate removing thorns from the plants, but you can remove them from cut roses. This won't reduce the time you have to enjoy them, but will make arranging them easier.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I want to press & dry some flowers. What is the chemical I should use to help them keep their color?
-  Priyadarshani - Matara

Priyadarshani, You don't need chemicals to press or dry flowers. You can hang thicker ones (like roses) upside down in a cool, dark location. Thinner flowers, like gerbera daises, you can press in tissue paper inserted in a thick book for a few weeks. It's true, the color will fade as the flower dries. There is no way to keep the intense, rich colors the flowers had in life once they are dry.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am making centerpieces for a friends wedding using twisted vine, berries and roses, which will be laid as a loose wreath style on the table, with candles in the center. My main worry is keeping the roses from wilting too soon. Could you please tell me the best way to keep the roses fresh without having to use floral foam?
-  Amanda - Wellington, New Zealand

Amanda, Water picks or tubes will be the next best thing to floral foam. Be sure to fill them with a mixture of water and floral preservative, measuring both and following the label directions. Make a fresh cut at the bottom of each rose stem and insert it into the tube. Keep them cool, or the water supply will be depleted quickly. So, you might want to arrange everything else first, then add the roses in water tubes last.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I recently started looking for flowers for my June wedding and I am looking at a mix of flowers that will include Gerbera Daisy's. My mom is planning to arrange the flowers for me and I was wondering if we would have trouble using Gerberas. I have heard that in order to use Gerberas you need to put a plastic sleeve over the stem because they are hallow and break easily, is this true? Do you have any advice on how to make Gerbera work in my bridal bouquet? If I need plastic selves, do you have any input as to were I can buy some?
-  Paula - St. Paul, MN

Paula, You can use gerberas easily for your wedding, but their condition will indicate whether you need a sleeve or not. Many gerberas are shipped with a clear sleeve around the hollow stem, much like a drinking straw. Ask your floral supplier how the gerberas come to them and see whether they'd leave the sleeve on the stems for you.

You can also wire stems. It shows more than the clear sleeve, but can work well. You need a medium-gauge floral wire (dark green in color and available at most craft stores). Cut lengths about three inches longer than the stems. Make a hook, like a fish hook, at the top of the wire. Insert most of the wire down the stem, but hook the bloom to the outside, and gently bend the hook around the underside of the bloom, This should give your stems more support.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am providing flowers to give out at a church service in October. I need flowers that will last in a cooler from Wednesday until Sunday morning. I was thinking I would like to dye white carnations all different colors but I need a recipe for dyeing them and then I am concerned that they will keep their dyed colors sitting in water for 3 or 4 days. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
-  Cindy - Pensacola, FL

Cindy, White carnations are a great choice! You can purchase them on Monday or Tuesday. Re-cut all the stems under water by removing an inch from the bottom of the stem. Strip any leaves that will fall below the water line. I would recommend you mix the floral preservative, room-temperature water, and dye all in one solution. Then, see how dark they are after five days. You have some time to do a test, so I'd highly recommend you do a trial on 3-5 stems. Keep the flowers cool, but in the solution, especially from Wed-Sunday.

For carnations, you can use a cool basement or coolest room in your home, keeping them on the floor where the temperature is usually 5F cooler than eye level. It won't detract many days from their enjoyment. The longer the flowers stay in the preservative & color, the richer the color will get. You can vary the intensity of the flower color by varying how much dye you put into each container. The test will help you determine what that right amount is.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have a Christmas cactus plant which I have in a northern exposure. It seems to be dropping its branches. I am not sure just how much water it requires. It seems to be either rotted or very dry where the branches fell off. Can you tell me just what the problem is? Thanks!
-  Helen

Helen, Clemson has a good website for care and re-flowering of Christmas cacti. Since they are succulents, they prefer drier soil conditions. It sounds as though the plant may be getting too much water and that is causing the problem. Sometimes problems arise when plants are moved, but the watering hasn't been changed to match their new conditions. If you have moved it, I would suggest you cut back on watering by about half the frequency and amount until you see some improvement.

You say it is in a Northern exposure. It will get little light there and may prefer brighter, indirect light such as from an Eastern facing window. In that lower light situation, it would not need very frequent watering. If you haven't moved it, what other changes might have caused problems? Was it recently repotted or was there another change in the environment?

My best advice is to try to match the watering to the light and temperature conditions, remembering that this plant prefers to be on the dry side. Lower light conditions dictate plants use less water, and the same is true for cooler temperatures. So, cut back on watering (but don't eliminate it) and see if there is some improvement.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, We rec'd a potted orchid of the white butterfyl type. What can you tell us about caring for it? Water, etc.?
-  Nancy

Nancy, Flowering orchids are one of the easier flowering potted plants to maintain. They need bright, but indirect sunlight. This can be easily accomplished by putting them behind a sheer curtain or in an eastern exposure window. Even more important is drainage. Orchids seem to grow best, not in soil or soilless media, but in a very coarse mixture of organic components. Yes, they need to be watered on a regular, perhaps weekly, basis. But the water must drain through the container completely.

If you have the pot in which the orchid is growing inside a ceramic or plastic pot, be sure no water stands inside the decorative container. Fertilizer isn't really needed, since the plants can get most of what they need from the water. You might fertilize them with 1/2 the recommended concentration of fertilizer once or twice per year, when they are actively growing in the spring and summer. The key to growing orchids is great drainage and bright, but indirect sunlight.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, We have this project in school regading flower arrangements. Our group was assigned to talk about FLOATING FLOWER ARRANGEMENT. We would like answers to these specific questions: 1. What is the meaning of this arrangement, 2. Its purpose, 3. The steps needed to to put one together.
-  Vannessa - Bacolod

Vannessa, Floating flowers can symbolize peace and serenity, but also may have many other meanings. It is relatively easy to get the flowers to float on water. Use a shallow bowl that has a wide opening. Select fresh flowers that have a large surface area. Open roses have more surface area than buds, so it is easier to get open roses to float. Use a measured amount of water and floral preservative in the bowl. Cut the stems short, to about an inch in length. Chrysanthemums and Gerbera daisies also make great floating flowers. Try several different colors and shapes of flowers to develop the arrangement you want.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How long does it take for white lily buds to open. And should I immerse them in warm water to push along the process. I would like to purchase the the lilies a couple of days prior to the function intended. Can you help with any suggestions?!
-  Sandra

Sandra, It may only take a few hours at room temperature for the lily buds to open, depending on how tight they are when you buy them. If they are green, I'd allow two days, but if they are puffy and showing some color, I would allow just one day to for them to open. Keep the lilies cool after they open to the desired state. This will help extend their life.

Be sure that you get some floral preservative when you buy them. Re-cut the stems under water, but don't submerge the whole flower. You only need to submerge the bottom two inches of the stem and then cut off about an inch of the stem. Be sure to mix the floral preservative with a measured amount of water and follow the label directions. It really will help prolong the life of the lilies.

You might also take a tissue and remove the yellow anthers. That will help extend the life of the flowers and prevent stains on tablecloths and clothing.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What effect does softened water have on outdoor flower gardens, grass etc. Before we install a water softener I need to know how it will effect my extensive flower gardens and shrubs.
-  Karen - Hardy, VA

Karen, Water softeners use salt (sodium chloride) to remove (literally change places with) calcium and magnesium. Plants need some calcium and magnesium and not so much sodium. I would not recommend watering plants on a regular basis with softened water. Without adequate leaching of the salt, you could get sodium build-up and that is toxic to plants.

You can solve the problem of watering indoors from an outdoor faucet that by-passes the water softener or using some purchased water. Most people find the benefits of having soft water for their home use outweigh the hassle of finding an alternative source of water for plants.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How can I make rose petals float while immersed in water. Not floating on top of the water in a cylinder type vase, but floating in the middle of the cylinder filled with water. Thank you so much.
-  Kathy - El Monte, CA

Kathy, That will be a difficult feat to accomplish. You might try some clear cellophane crumbled up and insert the rose petals in the folds. After adding water, you won't be able to see the cellophane. Jill Slater did this trick in one of her floral recipes that you might review for additional ideas.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I read what you wrote on floating flowers using fishing line. My question is I want to do a centerpiece with lilies submerged on the bottom of a bubble bowl vase. what is best to use? Pin Frog? or is there some kind of glue?
-  Shannon - NJ

Shannon, I'd use the frog, if you have one. Glue would be a last resort, since it can ruin the vase (or perhaps it is disposable). With a frog, you can have lots of flowers submerged at one time. You might find them as pin frogs, floral frogs, or Ikebana Kenzan. These "frogs" have a heavy or weighty metal base and pins that stick up. Simply insert the fresh flower stem onto the pin and submerge both. The frog and the container then are reuseable. You might need to secure the frog with some waterproof clay. All should be available at a craft store.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How do you take care of a gardenia bush. My mom got one for my grandmother who passed away. What do I need to do to take care of it, before it dies.
-  Teresa - Morristown, TN

Teresa, You should be able to grow the gardenia outside in Tennessee. Find a sunny location and one that gets some protection from cold winter winds. Be sure the site has good drainage, so water doesn't stand around the root system. They prefer an acidic soil, and a local garden center can help you understand if your soil needs some amendments to make it more acidic. They also probably will sell you those amendments. Gardenias love sunshine and water, but don't like to stand in it. Your local garden center can also help you with a fertilizer that will help produce flowers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I've been looking through your Q & A's and found some very helpful ideas, but not the one specific that I was looking for. I'm getting married this summer and was thinking of buying white roses for my bridesmaids' bouquets and dying them a light blue so that only the tips of the pedals are blue. How do I capture that effect? Do I have to worry about the dye transfering on the dresses? and How do I keep the roses from opening up too much until the big day?

Also in another senario I want to use virginia creepers on an archway. My Grandmother has tons that I can work with. My orginal plan was to let the creepers grow and fill out on the arch until the wedding then clip them and leave the ends in water. Are they still going to wilt throughout the day? Can you please give me any ideas that would work better. I was hoping that you could let me know your thoughts fairly soon so I get things organized. Please help out a very stressed bride. Thanks for your help.
-  Kelli - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Kelli, You can get the effect you're looking for using white roses, spray paint, and rubber gloves. Gently hold each bud in the palm of your left hand, with the petal tips showing. Lightly spray paint the petals until you get the desired color intensity. Allow them to dry, but put the stems back into a solution of water and floral preservative, following the label directions. You can spray lightly for a soft blue and harder for a more intense blue tip.

I like the idea of letting the virginia creeper grow through the arch, but not of clipping them. The vine will wilt within a few hours. People just can't move water through a stem like a plant can. Your best bet is to do some good pruning and training of the vine on a regular basis. I like the idea of a live arch, and the virginia creeper will grow relatively fast. I can't think of many other substitutes, unless you want to make some garland. Not from the virginia creeper, but from evergreens or another floral foliage that can take some time out of water.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a biology assignment and we have been asked what the affect of salt is on slugs and we have to compare this to what would happen if you put salt in a vase full of cut flowers... would this have a similar result and kill the flowers quickly or keep them lasting longer?
-  Sarah - Queanbeyan, NSW

Sarah, Salt will have a similar effect on slugs and fresh flowers. Salt causes water to move from an area of high concentration (of salt) to an area of low concentration. Salt in a vase will draw water out of the fresh flowers. Salt on a slug will do the same thing. Both will suffer dire consequences with the use of salt in the immediate environment. You can read a little more about some home remedies and why they don't work at our Flower Activity Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My friend is getting married in August and I volunteered to make her flower bouquet. I want her flower bouquet to match her color scheme, but cannot find turquoise or light blue flowers. Can I dye white roses turquoise or light blue and if that's possible, how would I go about doing this? Thanks for your time!
-  Vickie - Westminster, CA

Vickie, I would encourage you to do a 'trial run' to be sure that you get the color you're looking for. You'll want to watch the time and temperature so you can duplicate your results for the wedding. The roses are pretty easy to dye. The hard part is getting the dye in the vase solution dark enough to give you the color you want in the petals. Liquid food coloring is easy to use. I mix some floral preservative with water that has come up to room temperature. Be sure to measure both the water and the preservative as directed on the preservative label.

Then, take a small amount of the solution, perhaps 1 cup, and into that put a high concentration of dye. Cut about one-inch off the bottom of stem of the rose while holding about 3" under water. This will help prevent bent-neck and also help to start the flow of water and dye up the stem. Then, watch the clock, holding the roses at room temperature. They'll begin to open and should absorb the dye. As soon as you get the color you want, transfer the stems to a container with just preservative and water and keep them cool until the wedding. Don't store them in a food refrigerator, since that removes water to cool the air - which is very bad for fresh flowers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am arranging the flowers for a friend's wedding this Saturday (6-9-07). My friend is using hydrangeas and calla lilies for her hand-tied bouquets. I have worked at a florist for 7 years throughout my highschool and college years, so I have some experience with flowers...but not much with these in particular! I have 2 main questions:

1. I've read several websites that suggest dipping cally lily stems in wax to keep them from dripping on the dresses. Do you know anything about this? I would appreciate any info/tips that you can give, about types of wax, how much the callas will wilt, etc. Will the hydrangeas drip on the dresses?

2. Also, I've been reading your answers to past questions, especially about how prone to wilting hydrangeas are. If I make the bouquets on Saturday morning, the girls take their pictures (1pm), put the bouquets back in water, have the ceremony (4:30pm), and then put the bouquets in water for the reception, do you think the hydrangeas will last? Also, per one of your other posts, do you think hair-spraying the hydrangeas will keep them from wilting?

Thanks for your help! :)
-  Rebekah - Sanford, FL

Rebekah, Some florists will melt some candle wax and dip the stem ends into the clear candle was (or parafin) to seal the stem ends. It does help.

Hairspray may help reduce transpiration of the hydrangeas, but I would also keep them in water and keep them as cool as possible. The cooler temperatures will help more than hairspray.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have 2 rose bushes that I have had for 6 years. Last year they started to shoot out big long branches with no buds so I would trim them back. This year the same thing has happened but now my yellow bush has turned a deep dark red with totally dfferent flowers and there is still one shoot with yellow buds. My bright pink one has done the same thing the whole back side of it is deep dark red and the front is the orignal hot pink flowers. Any suggestions or what could be wrong or changed?
-  Heidi - Cedar City, UT

Heidi, Most roses today are commercially produced by attaching a bud or a shoot (graft) onto a hardy rootstock. The flower color of the hardy rootstock is very often, red. What has happened is that a shoot has grown from below the bud or graft union, and now you have red flowers. They shoots that developed above the graft produced the beautiful yellow flowers you wanted. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like they are thriving.

You can prune those shoots from below the graft (typically a swollen or larger diameter area near the base of the stem) so they don't grow and this will encourage the shoots above the graft to grow. Be sure your roses are getting 8 or more hours of sunlight a day and plenty of water. Be sure they get about an inch of rain per week or you should irrigate them.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, There are many "shoots" coming up around my white lilac bush. Is there a way to use these shoots in another area of the yard to start a new bush? I don't notice the same thing happening around my purple lilac bush. Interesting, yes!

How did you get to the place where you wanted to answer all these questions? I am afraid to bother you.
-  Katherine - Butler, PA

Katherine, Some liliacs will send up those shoots. You can try transplanting them by using a shovel to make a one-foot circle around the base of the stem. This will hopefully make a "root ball" which contains enough roots to get your new shrub started in its new location. Be sure to dig the new hole slightly bigger than your root ball and water the transplanted ball well. It is best to transplant either early in the morning or later in the evening to try to avoid some transplant shock.

I guess I was a the right place at the right time to get this job! I've enjoyed helping many people enjoy their flowers and plants more. Keep asking questions!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, We're doing a science fair project on changing the color of carnations. Our hypothesis is that blue will change quickest and yellow last. But that is not part of our question. Our question is how does the dye change the color of the carnation? We really need to know as our project is due on May 24th.

It's a really big part of 4th grade and it's hard to find something to help, We already know what to do we just need help doing it. Please could you try to answer our question by the the 22nd? We know it's short notice but please help! It's of the utmost importance it's done in time!
-  Andrea and Britney - Lake Forest Park, WA

P.S. Could you throw in some extra info about our project? Please?

Andrea and Britney, When you use a white flower, there is no pigment or color in the petals. Dissolving some food color in water, you can see the dye as it is taken up the water conducting vessels called xylem. You can see the dye in the vessels as it travels out the petals. Water can pass through the petals to the air outside in the process called transpiration, but the dye gets deposited in the petal tissue so it changes color. We have an experiment outline on our website that may help you. You will want to download Experiment #3.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Can you root a peony from burying the bloom like you can a snow ball bush?
-  Anita

No, Anita. You will need to take a piece of the root. Peonies are not easily propagated from their stems, but they are from the crown (part at soil level) and root. The bigger the piece, the more easily it is transplanted. Also, transplant them before they get over a foot tall, otherwise they may dry out and die before they can regenerate new roots and get established. If you've missed your opportunity this spring, try again in the fall, once the foliage has died back. They will transplant well then, too.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am a former florist (before having my two babies). I am doing my girlfriends wedding next weekend and i am using grapevine wreaths down a long 100' table, banquet style at a winery. Any tricks for re-hydrating the wreaths? I am trying to soak them and pull them apart to have down the center with a variety of candles and floral clusters. Let me know if you could ASAP. I also have to transfer them from LA to Santa Barbara California.
-  Sarah - Lakewood, CA

Sarah, You are on the right track with soaking them. Hot water will relax and re-hydrate them quicker, and having a big bathtub will help. I would wait and do it there, since they will dry in transit.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My sister sent me a lei to wear for Mothers Day. It was direct from Hawaii. It is made of small white orchids. I wore it and it was beautiful. I had never seen one except in pictures. I would like to preserve it somehow. Can it be dried, and if so how. We live in the middle of nowhere. We are just here to keep the world from having a small hole. I can not get any information. It is in my humidity crisper of my refrigerator. Please tell me I do not have to throw it away. Thanks for any information.
-  Patricia - Clarksville, VA

Patricia, You might try drying and pressing some of the orchids. White flowers will turn brown, but you will still have them. Find the ones in best shape and put them in a large telephone book. Those pages are absorbent. You might first put the flower inside some white tissue paper so that the ink from the book doesn't get on the petals.

Separate flowers by 50 or more pages. Put a few large books (~ 10 pounds) on the telephone book and leave it alone for 10-14 days. The flower should be dry. Then, you can arrange them on the clear glass of a picture frame and put a colorful solid piece of mounting board behind them and have a lovely memory.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I want to use sliced limes in my wedding centerpieces w/ my bright red roses. Will cut limes in the water kill my roses? I do not have another vessel to put inside the cylinder vase- it is only 3 1/2 inches wide.
-  Angie - Grand Rapids, MI

Angie, No, the limes won't kill the roses, but they may help them last just a bit longer by lowering the pH of the water. I'd encourage you to use a measured amount of floral preservative in the vase water. It will make a BIG difference for roses if you measure both the water and the preservative and cut the rose stems under water before arranging them in a vase. The last step would be to add the cut limes just before you place the vases on the tables. Sounds like a fun arrangement!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I received some stargazer lilies for Mothers Day. They have those bright yellow stamens and some of the yellow powder got on my white top (one of my favorite items of clothing...) I have tried stain remover and washing with a good detergent. It looks awful and won't totally come out. Is it ruined or is there something I could use to try and remove it. I am just sick!
-  Lynne - Liberal, KS

Lynne, I'm sorry to tell you that I believe the stain is permanent. I have searched on-line for removers that would work on clothing and carpet, but to no avail. I feel badly that the flower stained a favorite piece of clothing. We try to encourage consumers and professionals to remove the stamens as they open, so this kind of thing doesn't happen. The flowers last longer without the stamens as well.

In the future, if you get yellow stamen powder on any material, do not attempt to rub it out (that will set the stain in the fabric). Simply dab it with any kind of tape with adhesive and the powder will lift off without leaving any marks.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How do you keep blue hydrangeas blue if they are potted.
-  Ella - Cambridge ON, Canada

Ella, If it is one of the hydrangea types that can have a color change based on soil (or media) pH, then adding aluminum can help change the color from pink to blue. You can find fertilizers that will help at your local garden center. Remember that the change will happen slowly (weeks, not days or hours) and not all hydrangeas are capable of having the bloom color changed.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My tulips are done mid-may after the wind in Ellensburg blows all the petals off. Can I cut the greenery down so I can see other plants behind them or will it harm the growth of the tulip for next year? I've been told you need to let them die all the way down on their own, is that correct?
-  Sonia - Ellensburg, WA

Sonia, Yes, that information is correct. You need to leave the leaves grow for a while so the bulb can store food reserves to be strong enough to make a flower bloom next year. It is fine to pinch off the flowering stems, but do let the leaves dry off naturally. The best time to fertilize bulbs is in the fall with some bulb booster, but don't fertilize them now.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have been a florists for thirty years, but there are a lot of things that that I still do not know. Can you tell me why my mum stems and leaves turn very brown while they are still fresh. I have heard about sugar sensitive flowers and would like information on this. I am using conditioners in the amounts according to the directions, but feel that this has something to do with the discolored foliage. Also how do you store commador to keep it from drying out. if I put in water, it just dries on the tips. And why do stargazer lilies turn into rags after about a day in a casket piece. Thanks for your help.
-  Margaret - Quanaht, TX

Margaret, All very good questions from a seasoned veteran! One reason that flowers can have deteriorating foliage is from age or poor handling. If you're sure the flowers are fresh, the temperature of the flowers may have gotten too high while they were in transit to you. If the blooms are still good quality, strip off the leaves. If they're not, that is an issue for your wholesaler. Are other florists experiencing the same thing? If they are, it may not be your practices that are at fault. I've not heard of 'sugar sensitive' flowers.

I do highly recommend folks measure the water and the preservative added to clean buckets. Have you had your water tested lately? For about $15 to $25, you can have a lab test the pH and bicarbonates of the water. Talk then with your floral preservative supplier about the best formulation for your kind of water. The fern should stay moist in the box in your floral cooler. Check the relative humidity in the cooler (should be > 90%) and keep the fern stored low, where it is coolest and should be most humid.

I'm not sure why you're having trouble with the Stargazer, either. Be sure to soak the foam in water and preservative and that should help some of the problem.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What type of soil do most Cordyline grow in?
-  Andrew - Nottingham, England

Andrew, When growing Cordyline indoors, you can use a general purpose potting mix, not potting soil. I would recommend you not use a mix containing soil because it may not drain well enough and is very heavy. Also, look for a mix that has a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Don't use a mix that is designed to grow acid loving plants, like azaleas. They need lots of sunlight and grow best between 65°F and 95°F.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How do I preserve and dry carnations. My fiance bought them for me, (first in seven years when it wasn't an occasion) and I'm so shocked, I would like to preserve them. Thank you.
-  Christine - Columbus, OH

Christine, You can most easily hang them upside down and dry them. Pressing thicker flowers, like carnations and roses, doesn't work well since it is too hard to get them flat. You could take a few petals from them and press them in a thick telephone book. I like to keep 20-50 phone book pages in between thin flowers like pansies or single petals. After the petals dry, you can arrange them on glass, mount and frame them.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm in 6th grade & I need to do an IRP project and I need to find out top 5 ( or less) substances used to keep fresh cut carnations looking good the longest; can you help me?
-  Nicky - Richmond, VA

Nicky, We can help! We have a Flower Activity website that has three Experiment outlines. You will want to download the first one, since it contains an experiment like the one you want to do. The more popular additives to try are soda pop (not diet), aspirin, and sugar. I would highly encourage you to use the commercial floral preservative as a 'control' or 'comparison' treatment.

If you measure the water and preservative (follow the label directions) that treatment should give you the best (longest) results. Be sure to use the same volume of water in each vase and keep the flowers (use all the same flowers, putting 2-3 stems in each vase). That procedure should give you the best results.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Will adding a nail to the soil help turn a pink hydrangea blue? I'm honestly not sure what type of hydrangea it is, but I believe it is a broadleaf.
-  Cassie - Pontotoc, MS

Cassie, Some hydrangeas are capable of having the flower color changed, but most are not. Adding aluminum to the soil (and there are fertilizers to do this) can turn the hydrangea blue. Removing aluminum (lowering the pH to tie up aluminum) can turn the hydrangea pink. Perhaps the nail might contain some aluminum, but that will only help the hydrangea stay blue. I would advise you to visit your local garden center and take a hydrangea leaf. They can help you determine whether the flower color can be changed and should sell the fertilizer to help you make the change. It will take several weeks to see the change, so be patient.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I was informed by a couple of individuals to avoid using floral foams in hydrangea arrangements. Is it true that hydrangeas do not last when placed in a floral foam? I am asking because the arrangement that we will have in our wedding incorporates hydrangeas and roses on a block of Oasis floral foam. How far ahead can we prepare the flowers? Can we do this 41 hours in advance and still have fresh living hydrangeas? Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much!
-  Geri - Warren, MI

Geri, I'm not sure why they would advise against using floral foam. It's supportive and water-holding capabilities make it an excellent ingredient to most floral arrangements. Hydrangeas use LOTS of water, and so having the stems in a vase of water and floral preservative may provide a greater reserve of water and nutrition. You can soak floral foam in a mixture of water and floral preservatives.

Still, the vase provides a greater reserve of the solution. I wouldn't arrange the hydrangeas more than 8 hours before the wedding, and definitely not 41 hours before. They are such heavy users of water and transpire so much, that you really need to keep them cool and hydrated in a vase. They will begin to wilt even a few hours after arranging on a warm day.

Refrigerators cool by removing moisture from the air. This is harmful to fresh cut flowers, especially hydrangeas. They should be harvested at the very last possible moment, put into a cool room and hydrated well with a solution of water and floral preservative, and kept as cool as possible. Or, they should be retrieved from the florist at the very last moment, kept cool, and arranged as late as possible.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How much bleach and sugar should be put into a vase to keep some flowers fresh? Thanks xx
-  Amy - Perth, West Australia

Amy, We don't recommend that you use bleach and sugar as a floral preservative. The bleach contains lye and is very dangerous to work with. Sugar can help extend the life of fresh flowers, but it is difficult to get it in the right proportion. I would highly recommend you use a commercial preservative, measuring the water added to the packet of powder and following the label directions. You can learn a little more about floral preservatives that people use that really don't work at our Flower Activity website and you can also download Experiment #1.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a project for science on cut flowers. Our experiment is to find out how much bleach and glucose we should put in a vase to keep the flowers fresh. Love mAxx oxoo
-  Max - Perth, West Australia

Max, Bleach is very caustic and contains not only acid, but lye. I wouldn't recommend using it as a floral preservative. Check out our Flower Activity website and download the Experiment #1 and the observation sheet. The outline has some alternative additives, most of which won't be as effective as the packet of floral preservative. I'd highly encourage you to use the packet of floral preservative as your 'comparison' or 'control' treatment. If properly measured, the flowers in that vase should last longest.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a project in biology and I am supposed to take sunflower seeds and grow them. I water each cup with a different color die, which means I am using two blue watered cups, green, red, yellow, and regular water. I am trying to figure out which plants will grow faster but so far only one of my green watered plants have sprouted but it has not bloomed.

All you can see is green leaves, what should I do. I have to answer questions, get 3 resources of background information, create visual display, and write at least a two page report, and I also have to do graphs and charts on progress. can you please help me, the project is due may 16th, 2007. thank-you for taking the time to read my letter.
-  Jessica - Douglasville, GA

Jessica, The seeds need the water, but not the dye, to germinate. Unfortunately, the dye won't be absorbed by the seedlings, either. Once the radicle emerges (the root), it can absorb both water and important nutrients. Those important nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The dye does contain some compounds, but I'm not sure which ones. It is unlikely that there are any essential elements in there for plant growth. The first leaves to emerge are cotyledons, not true leaves but useful to get photosynthesis started for the new plant.

It will be many weeks before those sunflowers are large enough to bloom, probably at the end of summer. So, while you didn't get the results you may have wanted, you were able to disprove your hypothesis that the seeds absorb dye. I would steer you to some websites that talk about plant nutrition and seed germination. You can make some diagrams of seed germination and water being taken up by the root. You could make a chart with the number of seeds that germinated everyday and the percentage of total germination. You could also make a diagram of the necessary plant nutrients and some fertilizers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am wondering what the best way to keep cut flowers the longest and the freshest?
-  Brooke - Monroe, MI

Sue, Brooke, Great question, and one we get a lot! We've put together some website pages that provide all the information needed to help you select the best flowers and care for them once you get them home...and these tips work! flowrmd.com/. By following these common sense tips, you'll get the maximum enjoyment of your flowers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a project in biology and I am supposed to take sunflower seeds and grow them. I water each cup with a different color die, which means I am using two blue watered cups, green, red, yellow, and regular water. I am trying to figure out which plants will grow faster but so far only one of my green watered plants have sprouted but it has not bloomed.

All you can see is green leaves, what should I do. I have to answer questions, get 3 resources of background information, create visual display, and write at least a two page report, and I also have to do graphs and charts on progress. can you please help me, the project is due may 16th, 2007. thank-you for taking the time to read my letter.
-  Jessica - Douglasville, GA

Jessica, The seeds need the water, but not the dye, to germinate. Unfortunately, the dye won't be absorbed by the seedlings, either. Once the radicle emerges (the root), it can absorb both water and important nutrients. Those important nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The dye does contain some compounds, but I'm not sure which ones. It is unlikely that there are any essential elements in there for plant growth. The first leaves to emerge are cotyledons, not true leaves but useful to get photosynthesis started for the new plant.

It will be many weeks before those sunflowers are large enough to bloom, probably at the end of summer. So, while you didn't get the results you may have wanted, you were able to disprove your hypothesis that the seeds absorb dye. I would steer you to some websites that talk about plant nutrition and seed germination. You can make some diagrams of seed germination and water being taken up by the root. You could make a chart with the number of seeds that germinated everyday and the percentage of total germination. You could also make a diagram of the necessary plant nutrients and some fertilizers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm trying to create centerpieces for my wedding in September. I have a vision in my head of a hurricane vase with petals at the bottom of the vase (on the inside) and a floating candle on the top. I have been told that you can't get petals to sink. Is there a way to make them stay at the bottom of the vase? Do you have any suggestions for what types of flowers or petals to use. The colors of the wedding are burgundy and ivory. Thanks so much for your help. I truly appreciate it.
-  Cindy - Lees Summit, MD

Cindy, You could (waterproof and cool) glue some roses to some glass pebbles or marbles and submerge the buds. They would be a burgundy color. You might also glue the petals to the bottom of the hurricane glass. I can envision a small glass bowl at the bottom of the hurricane to float open rose blooms and, inserted into the top of the hurricane, another glass bowl with candles floating in it. It would save lots of water and solve the problem of how to get those petals to sink. You could use contrasting (white) roses at the bridal table and carnations or chrysanthemums at the other tables.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I will be cutting fresh magnolia stems for a wedding is there anything I can do to keep them fresh .thanks
-  Kathy

Kathy, I would recommend that you cut the blooms early in the morning and as close to the wedding day as possible. The less time you have to store them, the better. Carry a bucket with room-temperature water and floral preservative (measure both, following the preservative label's directions) and insert the stems in the bucket so the bottom few inches are submerged, but the tops stay dry. Do not store them in a refrigerator. Refrigerators cool by removing moisture from the air and flowers need high relative humidity.

Do store them in a cool place after harvest to keep them fresher longer. Use a sharp knife or pruners when you do make the cuts. Don't pack them too tightly or the tender ivory blooms will bruise and brown. I'd strongly encourage you to do a trial run about a week before the wedding. That will help you get your technique down pat.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am opening a floral shop on a very low budget. I can't afford one of the really expensive floral coolers. Is it possible to make it with a refrigerator until I can do better? Also, once you change flower colors in warm temps, do you then place them in the cooler to prolong their life?
-  Missie - Lake City, TN

Missie, Even budget-minded professionals need a floral cooler, not a refrigerator. The refrigerator cools by removing moisture from the air. Fresh flowers need that moisture to keep fresh and full of water. Even a second-hand floral cooler is better than a refrigerator. You will see a difference in the quality and longevity of the flowers, and so will your customers. And, yes, once the flower color change is complete, you can store the flowers in the floral cooler.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am hosting 100-150 people for a Kentucky Derby party at a horse farm and need some fresh ideas for two large vase centerpieces. Any ideas?
-  colette - Devon, PA

Colette, What would Derby Day be without mint? I might suggest a lime-green theme for the centerpiece with limes, mint, and white or ivory flowers. You could use ivory lilies in long slender clear glass vases. Put them on a large round mirror. In some smaller vases, use big bunches of mint and add those near the lilies. Or, intersperse the two in a medium glass cylinder vase. Add fresh limes around the base of the vase.

If you want to keep it tall, use the ivory lilies and some spikes of Bells of Ireland. The mint still should be so easy to find and most will use it for edible purposes, not ornamental. It could add a nice fragrance to your arrangements, too. Substitute roses for the lilies, budget permitting, since the winner does run for the roses.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Would sedum (dragon's blood) be an evergreen in our zone? I think we are in zone 7. What exactly does herbaceous perennial mean in terms of evergreen qualities? I am looking for an attractive low growing ground cover for the front of our house which is a brick colonial facing south. We want low growing, fairly simple, to complement american boxwood. I'm also looking at vinca minor. Low maintenance is important.
-  Karlynn - Tappahannock, VA

Karlynn, A perennial is any plant that, had it lived, would grow and flower again next year. USDA Zones are guidelines of what to expect, not guarantees on how the plants will grow. There is so much variability from one winter to the next, that you never know what will make it consistently. Sedum are hardy in your zone, including Autumn Joy (hardy in zones 3-9). Sedum won't be green in the winter.

Herbaceous perennials, like sedum, die back to the ground each winter. Hardy evergreen shrubs do keep their foliage. Vinca is a good choice. Pachysandra is an alternative. You can even find some very low growing junipers. You might visit a local garden center to get some alternatives. They could recommend someone to install it for you or help teach you how to install it properly yourself.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Could you tell me how florists change the color of the centers of daisies. I am trying to match the colors of lime/yellow tennis balls for an event.
-  Sue - New Bedford, MA

Sue, The center of flowers can't be colored differently from the outer part. Florists don't typically change the color of flowers, unless there is a special color that a customer wants. Even then, it can be hard to match a color. It may be easier to match the color of an accent ribbon to the tennis balls and select a flower color that would coordinate well with them.

If you don't want a coordinating color, white flowers could be used. We do have some instructions for coloring flowers at our Flower Activity Center and you'll want to download Experiment #1. White carnations work best for coloring, but it may be a big challenge to match the color of a tennis ball both in terms of hue and intensity. If all else fails, spray paint might give you the right color but the flowers won't last long.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science Fair project on "Which myths prolong the life of cut roses best?" I have already done my experiment and found out that the rose in half a cup of 7up and half a cup of water worked the best. Why did it work the best? Also the one with asprin died first. Why?
-  Anna - Eden Prairie, MN

Anna, The 7-Up has both sugar and a low pH, giving the flower some of the things it needs. Once cut from the plant, the flower needs some sugar since it can't produce its own food through photosynthesis. A lower pH of the vase solution can help speed the uptake of water by the flower. The aspirin could form a weak acid if it could be ground finely enough and dissolved in water. The aspirin probably couldn't be ground finely enough and some of the larger particles probably blocked the water conducing vessels in the flower. We have an experiment outline that would give you some additional information in our Flower Activity Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'd like to know if the temperature of water affects the transport system in plant. Thank you for your help.
-  Kang Su Bin - Singapore

Kang, Of course! Heat is a catalyst for most all reactions including the transport of nutrients around the floral stem. We also know that temperate crops grown at high temperatures produce flowers that are larger and less intense in color compared to flowers of the same cultivar grown at cooler temperatures. Heat speeds up the opening of flower buds and, unfortunately, their senesence.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Want to use submerged flowers for my daughter's wedding in July. Bought two sizes of square vases, 14" and 19". I have read your directions, but have a couple of questions. Can you use fishing line to "wire" the flowers? We want them to float in the water from the top to the bottom of the vases. Also, can you use artificial flowers for this? Thank you!
-  Judy - Everett, PA

Good questions, Judy! I've not tried to float any artificial flowers, but it may work. I would think they may float and be more difficult to sink since they contain more air than real flowers. You could use fishing line to "wire" the flowers, but the real challenge will be to get the flowers to float at different levels. You may be better off stacking some clear containers and submerging flowers in the bottom of each container you stack.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My fiancee and I chose teal and ivory as our wedding colors. Could you tell me what flowers would look good dyed and what flowers would look good beside the dyed ones? I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks!
-  Jonie - Reno, NV

Jonie, There are lots of great ivory flowers. Roses, of course, are a romantic addition to any bouquet or corsage. Lilies, gerbera dasies, and orchids are some elegant flowers that are available in an ivory color. There aren't any teal-colored flowers, but carnations and roses both can be dyed. I'd encourage you to talk with your floral professional and see what flowers they are comfortable dying.

You could always choose a coordinating color, one that would stand out against teal dresses and a wedding dress. A burnt orange is opposite teal on the color wheel. You could consider adding a few hints of burnt orange in mini-carnations as an accent. Don't care for orange? Perhaps the romantic, traditional red would suit your preference. Delicate red rosebuds can be added to the attendant's bouquet. You could even use all ivory flowers and add teal ribbon streamers if you don't want to dye flowers or use a coordinating color. My best advice is to contact your local floral professional and schedule a consult.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science experiment where wanted to see if stem length had an effect on how much dye was drawn up into the petals. We observed that the longer the stem, the more colorful the petals became. Do you know why this is? We've done a bunch of research online and can't find anything to answer this question.
-  Laura - Pullman, WA

Laura, Great idea for an experiment. I suspect that more dye would have been taken up by the longer-stemmed flower because it should have more transpirational pull. I would have expected the shorter stems to have been more colorful since there would have been less length for the dye to travel. The longer stem would have longer xylem tissue (the water conducting vessels) and the dye would have longer to travel. The water gets pulled up the stem in part by the amount of water transpired from the petals and partly due to capillary action. If the flowers were identical other than stem length, it may be a tough one to explain definitively. I suspect your results are due to the stronger pull up the xylem tissue by the longer stem, pulling up dye faster.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project and I need to know the names of nutrients in soil. The science fair is in three weeks.
-  Meghan

Meghan, There are lots of nutrients in soil, some of which plants need. NC State has a great site to explain the nutrients. The macro-nutrients (ones needed in larger quantities) are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Calcium is in-between a macro- and a micro-nutrient. We also have an experiment outline you may find helpful at our Flower Activity Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, With prom season approaching, I always try to gain a better understanding of the proper how to for corsages and wristlets. The silver plate if you will on the wristlet has four tabs on it what are they supposed to be used for? Is it for affixing the completed flowers onto the wristlet. Should corsages or wristlets be glued vs. wired? What type of glue should be used? Floral adhesive, a glue gun or a pan glue? I was looking for basic reference on how to put together a wristlet or corsage properly.
-  Lynn Borges - Taunton, MA

Lynn, The four tabs on the corsage holder are for affixing the finished corsage to the elastic band. I prefer to wire the flowers in a corsage and believe they would stay together longer. I like to wire the top flowers and then the bottom flowers, wire them together then use the silver tabs on the wristlet to attach them to the band. Roses or carnations, orchids or alstromeria, the flowers that get wired and taped well will probably withstand an evening of socializing better than ones that get glued.

One craft website had a fairly good website for making a corsage. You might also contact your state floral association and see whether they have some classes or seminars you might take.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm having an outdoor wedding in the middle of July. Which temperatures most likely in the nineties and up to the hundreds. What flowers can I have in my bouquets? I'm terrified of them wilting before we even walk down the aisle!
-  Katie - Paso Robles, CA

Katie, I would use a floral professional who has experience with flowers in the summer. I would also ask about some longer-lasting flowers, especially for flowers that won't have a source of water. Carnations and chrysanthemums are pretty sturdy and should look good for a while, even in the heat. Don't be afraid to use a few roses, if your floral professional can use some water picks or water tubes for a short-term water supply.

Roses in your bouquet will open faster in the heat, but you could still use them. Tropical flowers might be another choice, depending on the wedding theme. Some orchids can withstand some temperature extremes for a short period of time. So, take your floral preferences to your floral professional and see what kinds of great ideas s/he can come up with.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have a front porch that sits way off the side of the house, far from the street. It is so unnoticeable, and I would like to know what sort of arrangement I can put on the porch, in the way of potted flowers, etc, to bring attention to the door. Porch is red brick walls, concrete floor, and is shady. The porch is probobly 10' wide by 6' deep, with a glass front door located in the center with two sidelights. The house is a 1960 red brick ranch, so it is pretty bland from the street, and is located on river property, although you cannot see the river from the street. Any ideas? Thank you.
-  Kathie - Kankakee, IL

Kathie, If the porch is too shady, flowers won't grow there. I'm inclined to direct you toward some impatiens, since they will grow and flower in relatively lower light. You could elevate the containers to get them up off the ground and more in the direct line of sight. A nice contrast of white and purple impatiens might attract some attention.

You could substitute red for the purple. There are tons more color choices in impatiens, so your local garden center may be more helpful in terms of coordinating some colors they have on-hand. If the plants don't produce many flowers, you might consider adding a grow light or spot light to help increase the light intensity so you can enjoy some flowers there.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My causin is getting marry in June 2007. She would like a few roses around her cake. Can you give me some tips how to care for the roses before putting it on the wedding cake? (e.g preventing food poisoning and etc)
-  Mallie

Mallie, There are some edible flowers on the market today, but not roses. You can safely display roses around a wedding cake if you rinse the buds in cold running water and then allow them to air dry. You could do this the day before the wedding. Otherwise, care for them as you would any other fresh cut flower. Once you get them, recut the stem under water to restart the flow of water up the stem. Place them in a mixture of floral preservative and water, following the instructions on the floral preservative package. Just be sure that the flowers aren't served on the plates so the guests won't eat them.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science project: Which substance preserves cut flowers the longest? Sprite, carboated water, tea w/ caffine, or tea w/o caffine? I need some help.
-  Kennedy - Roseville, CA

Kennedy, We're happy to help! We have a Flower Activity Center with an experiment outline and observation sheet that you might find helpful. The experiment you want is Experiment #1. I would highly encourage you to include a commercial floral preservative as a comparison or control. The packet typically comes with the fresh flowers. That should help flowers last the longest.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a project for school, and I was wondering if you could help me. I need to find out how the amount of sugar in the water affects the wilting and dying speed of cut flower stems, and I need some background research. Can you help me?
-  Sarah - Shandaken, NY

Sarah, Sure, we can help! We have a web site established with three experiment outlines, one that should really help you. It is at our Flower Activity Center. You'll want to download Experiment #1 and perhaps the observation sheet. Plants can miraculously produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis.

Once cut from the plant, the flower has no food source since there aren't enough leaves to produce enough energy to sustain the flower. So, scientists have developed a combination of sugar and a biocide to create a floral preservative or floral food. The biocide is necessary since the sugar also promotes the growth of stem-clogging bacteria and fungi, naturally present on the stem and leaves of the flower. So, don't simply add sugar to the vase water but do use the commercial preservative packets and follow the instructions for its use.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My question is what effect does a glucose solution have on the longevity of cut flowers?
-  Kevin - Las Vegas, NV

Kevin, Glucose can extend the life of fresh flowers, but it needs to be in the right proportion to water. The glucose is a substitute for the sugars that are naturally produced in the process of photosynthesis. We have some additional information at our Flower Activity Center and you will want to see Experiment #1.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My clematis grow beautifully just to the point of blooming then suddenly begin to die off from the ground level up. The leaves just shrivel up. There is no sign of insect invasion, mildew etc. The plants are in deep pots. When I cut the plants off at ground level they will come right back and do it again. This has happened several years both where I'm living now and a previous address nearby. It is frustrating to say the least to have the vines just start to bloom and start to die at the same time. I have three roof supports on my patio that would be excellent posts for clematis to grow on and I think they are beautiful. Please help. Thank you.
-  Charlotte - Mt Angel, OR

Charlotte, It does sound like a fungus or bacteria is affecting your clematis. It is hard to make the diagnosis at such a great distance. It isn't a root rot, since they do come back from the roots. It sounds like an aerial fungus that is present and works on the stem at a certain point. I would suggest you talk with a local garden center and see if they would recommend something to control the problem on the young plants and then perhaps they would get large enough, and the stem tough enough, to resist the invader that you could stop the preventative control and enjoy the blooms. But from the symptoms you describe, I suspect an aerial fungus.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My students have a group and they can't figure thier question out thier question is which color of food coloring dyes the roses the fastest? Can you please help them? Sincerly,
-  Mrs. Babcock - Roosevelt Elemantry Theodor School - Long Beach, CA

Mrs. Babcock, I've had students report red dye is absorbed faster and, in different experiments, blue dye. I believe the rate of absorbtion has a great deal to do with the chemistry of the dye and less to do with the flower. The colors in the dye are made using different chemicals. For some liquids, one type of chemical might make the red dye absorbed faster. For some gels, the blue dye may be absorbed faster. I've seen red liquid dye absrobed faster than other colors. Blue powder and gels seem to be absorbed faster for other individuals.

I hope that helps. Please encourage your budding scientists to ask lots of questions. The world needs more great scientists (and teachers who inspire them)!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project on the effects of different substances on cut carnations in a vase and what makes them stay fresher longer. I was wondering your opinion and what works best. I was thinking of using: sugar water, vanilla exstract, salt water, tap water, asprin, and food-colouring water. What do you reccomend?
-  Jessie

Jessie, We have an experiment outline at our Flower Activity Center and an observation sheet that might be helpful. The outline gives you some information about different kinds of additives you can mix with water and test their effects on fresh flowers. I would encourage you to be sure and use a commercial floral preservative (the packet that comes with fresh flowers) as one of the additives. This will give the flowers longest life and and can be used as a comparison "treatment."
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How does air movement in a plant affect the transpiration rate?
-  Nikkita - Bridgetown

Nikkita, Air flow around a plant dramatically affects transpiration. It has a lot to do with relative humidity. Water will move out of the leaf faster when the relative humidity of the air is low and also when the temperature is high. Combine low relative humidity and high temperature and the transpiration rate of most plants will increase dramatically. Plants well-suited for hot, dry-climates (like cacti) don't increase the rate of transpiration much in those temperatures. Their plant structures have adapted to help reduce water loss.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, For my science project I have placed four roses in seperate vases with different substances mixed with the water (i.e. Floralife, aspirin and table salt). I need to know what the different stages of a cut roses' life would be called from fresh cut to it wilting. Thanks for your help.
-  Jessie - Pelzer, SC

Jessie, We don't have names for the stages other than tight bud (no color showing), bud (some color showing), and opening flower. You could look at the number of petals that reflex, or bend back, as they open. We also look at discoloration on the petals; brown spots or purple spots are a sign of age. Other than that, there really aren't any specific "stages."
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How to bleach leaves and twigs/branches/fruits?
-  Rama - Ghaziabad, UP

Rama, There isn't a good way to bleach leaves, twigs, and fruits. Drying them in a cool dry place will remove some of the color. An alternative might be to find some light-colored leaves, fruits, and twigs and allow them to dry. The drying process would remove much of the little color that was there. You might be able to find some white birch twigs, already white. The leaves and fruit will be more difficult. Leaves have a lot of rigid tissue that will probably be brown when dried. Fruits will shrivel dramatically when dried.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My name is Makendie I am in 5th grade and for my science project I want to know If four different kinds of white flowers will change colors by adding food coloring to the water? What flowers would be best for my projects and what colors of die? My expieriment will be to find out which one will turn that color the fastest and that looks the best. Thank you for your help.
-  Makendie - Overton, NY

Makendie, We have an experiment outline available to download in our Flower Activity Center. You might also find the observation sheet helpful. Some flowers I would suggest you use include white carnations or mini-carnations, a white rose, white dasies (chrysanthemums). You can use red or blue food dye. I believe those work best because it is relatively easy to see those colors in white petals. Also, you'll want to be sure that you use the floral preservative available with the flowers.

Follow the packet directions and mix-up the preservative with the recommended amount of room-temperature water. Then, add about 4 ounces of that solution to each vase. To each vase, then, add the food dye. That will help the flowers last longer through your experiment.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What effect does a glucose solution have on the longevity of cut flowers?
-  Eleanora - Forest Hills, NY

Eleanora, Glucose will provide the flowers with a source of energy. However, it will also promote the growth of naturally-occurring and stem-clogging bacteria and fungi. The best solution is to use a commercial preservative and mix it with the recommended amount of room-temperature water. This insures that you have the proper balance of water, pH, energy (sugars), and biocide.

You can read more about some home remedies that don't work at our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #1.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What would make cut flowers last longer? Water, sprite, preservitives the florist gives you, or water with some bleach. I am asking this because I want to know how to keep my plants alive for a longer peroid of time, and not have to go rushing to The store every week.
-  Jennifer - Leonia, NJ

Jennifer, Living plants can produce their own energy in the process of photosynthesis. Cut flowers cannot. The packets the florist provides when you buy flowers are for cut flowers only, not living plants. Plants need one set of nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and some minor nutrients) while cut flowers need an energy source and a biocide. Use a fertilizer for your indoor plants, following the label directions.

In NJ, you may not need to fertilizer during the winter months when you are watering plants less often because the temperature is lower and the sunlight less intense. If you buy a soluble fertilizer (one that will dissolve in water before it is applied), you can use it each time you water in the spring, summer, and fall months. For fresh cut flowers, use the package of floral preservative and mix it with the recommended amount of water, left to come up to room temperature.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I would like to know how to use hydrangeas in my bridal bouquets. I have tried treating them with floral food and spraying them with Crowning Glory and still they wilt in a few hours. This is a popular flower request for brides. Help!
-  Adele - Calgary Alberta, Canada

Adele, Hydrangeas are one of the most popular wedding flowers, but they are among the more challenging. Start with reputable material from a supplier you trust. Hydrate the flowers well using a hydrating solution and then transfer to a floral preservative. Keep them in water as long as possible and do use the Crowning Glory or other anti-transpirant. You could also try water tubes, which will give them water a little while longer. I don't have any other "tricks" to help them last longer. Water is the real key.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I got a beautiful Phalaenopsis (Butterfly Orchid) and I want to make sure I don't over water it. I have been given the advice to place a few ice cubes in the pot once a month as this will help not over water. Please help. My Orchid is in a six inch pot with what looks like the bark as the main source of cover. I have it indoors in my office. How often should I water and approx how much water.
-  Jackie - Dana Point, CA

Jackie, Orchids can be very long lasting and are an enjoyable cut flower. Don't put ice cubes on the orchid plant. First, be sure the container into which the orchid is growing has drainage holes. Most orchids today are marketed in a very coarse bark mixture that almost seems too open to grow orchids.

Once you've made sure the pot has drainage holes, you can then water it about once a week with about a half cup of room temperature water. Most of this water will run out the bottom drainge holes. The bark or potting mix will get wet and provide the plant with needed water.

Ice cubes could damage (chill) sensitve tropical roots. For many orchids, the roots will grow up and over the rim of the container; this is normal for the orchid so don't trim or prune them. Give them bright but indirect sunlight, such as an eastern or western window.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Could you give me some advice as to flowers and filler that can be best used in a submergable arrangment? My to be daughter-in-law is wanting white maybe with some red. Thank you.
-  Sherry

Sherry, I love the bright color of red gerbera dasies, and you may, too. They can be wired using a hook shaped wire and then anchored with some moderately sized stones. Roses are always a winner and are relatively easy to submerge. Carnations have an intense color and might work well for a different look or texture. If I want to re-use the vase, I'd anchor them using hot glue to some smooth stones then submerge them.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What is contained in those sachets you get when buying cut flowers from the supermarket? Sometimes it is a powder and sometines a liquid. Why? Also why is it apparently a different formula for roses and for other things?
-  Jeremy - London, England

Jeremy, Both the powder and liquid are floral preservatives. They contain a sugar (energy source for the flower) and a biocide (to keep stem-clogging bacteria and fungi from growing quickly). Sometimes it is a liquid so it is more easily dissolved. The powder is not too difficult to dissolve and is lighter to transport. It doesn't make a difference to the flower. Fresh flowers can benefit from the floral preservative. There are some hydrating solutions that are different from floral preservatives in that they help flowers shipped out of water (dry) to absorb water faster. There may be some different formulations for different flowers, but most floral preservatives work well for most fresh flowers. The important thing to remember about the liquid and powder packets is to use the correct amount of water specified on the label, and measure it. Too much preservative in the solution is as bad as too little.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a 4th grade science fair project and I need to test how different cut flowers absorb dye. I have chosen a rose, an orchid, a lily, a carnation and a gladiolus - do you think these are good choices? And what color dye do you think works the best?
-  Shannon - Leicester, MA

Shannon, We have an experiment outline and observation sheet that you may find helpful at our Flower Activity Center. You made some good flower choices and may substitute carnation if you can't find one of your selections. I would encourage you to take the packets of floral preservative that come with the flowers and mix them in a container separate from the vases you will use. Be sure to use warm water and measure the water amount, following the directions on the package label. Then, select vases (water glasses work well) that are equal in volume. Add about 4 ounces of the floral preservative solution to each. To that, add the dye. I would suggest you use liquid food coloring, and use either red or blue color. These colors are more easily seen. You could add some floral preservative to each vase (be sure to add the same amount to each vase, each time) and the flowers should last a long time.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, We have Lavender growing in our backyard. It is very healthy looking and has been throughout the winter. Should we trim it down to its roots to have another healthy growth this year?

Our home is in Northern Virginia (Alexandria) just outside of Washington, D.C. Thanks for your help.
-  Professor William Maxwell - Washington, D.C.

William, I would not prune it to the ground. I would encourage you to prune it much like other flowering "shrubs" and prune about 1/3 to 1/2 off, but keep 1/2 to 2/3 of the growth. If you trim it too far (severely or to the ground) and you get cold weather, it could kill the plant. Removing a large section (1/2 to 1/3) will provide the plant with some photosynthetic capabilities to get it growing this spring.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What method to use to keep your cut flowers fresh? Examples: 7up, tap water, sugar, citric acid, bleach, or soda.
-  Kylee - Woodbridge, VA

Kylee, Fresh flowers need water and a commercial preservative to extend their life off the flower. Once removed from the plant, the flower needs a source of energy since there aren't enough leaves to conduct photosynthesis. Water is needed to hydrate the flower and transport sugars around in the vascular tissue.

It's also important to re-cut the bottom half-inch of the stem of every fresh flower off while holding the bottom inch or two under water. This eliminates the air bubble that can become trapped and reduce the life of flowers. Keep fresh blooms out of direct sunlight and away from hot or cold air drafts.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Recently a friend of mine gave me a very young, cut, carnation. Well, I started off putting it in water, giving it some sugar, and putting it in the sun. The carnation did become to bloom a bit and as it bloomed, I feel slightly silly to admit, but I almost felt like a mother or somethign to the flower and I began my research on how to better take care of it.

Well in my research I learned: to take off the leaves that are under water, I was doing the right thing by changing its water and giving it sugar every day, Not to put it in direct sunlight, and I need to keeps its vase very clean.

I have had the carnation for about 7 days now and I was wondering if: A) there was anything else i could do to better take care of the flower and B) If it was at all possible to breed a flower that has been cut.

I ask about breeding because I noticed little white things in the center of the flower pop up and soon learned they where called "Pistils". The more I read about flower breeding and how its always a challenge in altering the offspring or flower breed, I feel it could be the intensive hobby I've been looking to find.

I'm pretty sure my friend didn't know what he was creating when he gave me the young carnation!
-  Courtney - Derry, NH

Courtney, It sounds like you've done all you could and did enjoy your carnation for a very long time. If you kept it cool (45°F to 55°F) it could have lasted longer, but most homes are kept at a higher temperature. Plant breeding is an exciting profession and hobby.

It is not, however, possible to breed a flower once it has been cut from the plant. You need the plant to continue to grow and develop seed from the fertilized flower. The flower won't last long enough in a vase to produce seed. You should look into the Dianthus society or other plant group of enthusiasts who might be engaged in breeding a particular type of flower. Often, it is from those people that the new, exciting cultivars originate.

Read more or take a course on plant breeding to learn traditional methods. It can be fun and rewarding, but also takes a great deal of time and meticulous record keeping.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What method to use to keep your cut flowers fresh? Examples: 7up, tap water, sugar, citric acid, bleach, or soda.
-  Kylee - Woodbridge, VA

Kylee, Fresh flowers need water and a commercial preservative to extend their life off the flower. Once removed from the plant, the flower needs a source of energy since there aren't enough leaves to conduct photosynthesis. Water is needed to hydrate the flower and transport sugars around in the vascular tissue.

It's also important to re-cut the bottom half-inch of the stem of every fresh flower off while holding the bottom inch or two under water. This eliminates the air bubble that can become trapped and reduce the life of flowers. Keep fresh blooms out of direct sunlight and away from hot or cold air drafts.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project in my 5th grade class and I need to know the ingrediants for Bacteria and Make-up: Does clarifying makepup inhibit bacterial growth better than normal makeup does?
-  Raquel - Rogeraville, TN

Raquel, I'm not sure of the ingredients for antibacterial make-up. Perhaps the website for the manufacturer would have the ingredients listed.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am helping a friend with a wedding and she would like a tall arrangment to sit upon a pedestal. She loves dendrobium orchids (green). Do you think this will give the height she is looking for? It is a fall wedding. Thank you kindly.
-  Re - Bartlett,IL

Re, You could very easily use dendrobium orchids in a container and use pedestals to increase the height. Use three pedestals of unequal height with an arrangement on top of each to create a greater visual effect. You could also incorporate plumes of fern fronds or other greenery to set off the orchids and add some height.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My pink cut roses have a brown outer color. Why is this and is there any thing I can do to make it pink all over? Also when wold you want to dry them and to dry them do I just hang them up side down?
-  Beth - Campbellsville, KY

Beth, The browning could be an indication that the rose buds were exposed to too cold of an air temperature or that they were bruised or otherwise injured. Once this happens, there (unfortunately) is nothing that can be done to get the pink color to return. When you are done enjoying them fresh, do hang them upside down and dry them in a cool, dark place. A closet or basement is an ideal place. Display the dried roses where direct sunlight won't hit them and keep the dust off them by enclosing in glass or plexi-glass. They will last longer.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I received some beautiful spring tulips from my boyfriend for valentine's day... and they are potted. There is one tulip that is just about to open and then two others that are bulbs so far. I was wondering how I can prolong their life...and how can I best take care of them? Should I re-pot them after awhile? Or does their life span end pretty quickly?
-  Heather - Peoria, AZ

Heather, Flowering bulbs don't last too long indoors due to the warm temperatures and they will re-bloom only after they've gone dormant and are re-conditioned.

You can try planting the bulbs outside after you've enjoyed them indoors in the container. Depending on where in the country you live, they should eventually go dormant, rest, then reflower next spring. Plant them in a sunny site outdoors and you may get to enjoy them again next spring.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project with carnations and dye and I was wondering if I dried the flowers would they still keep their color and I need to know this fast because the fair is soon. Also is oven drying of flowers effeicent as it is fast?
-  Emma - Walnut, IL

Emma, I wouldn't dry the flowers in the oven. Hang them upside down in a cool, dry place. They will keep some of the color, but much of the color does disappear in drying. If you dyed the flowers, they will also keep some of the color, but some will fade.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Is there a "Silver Rose" that has a shade of purple or silver in it?
-  Janine - SI, NY

Casey, I'm not sure if I found the right rose, but Jackson & Perkins has one of the largest collections of hybrid tea roses available. You should look through their website to see if yours is there. Here is the one I think may be the one you're seeking: Moon Shadow.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How do you revive cut gerber daisies that are drooping?
-  Karen - Monterey, CA

Karen, It can be difficult to revive wilting flowers. Understanding the cause of the wilting is key to your ability to revive it. But, understanding why the gerbera is wilting isn't always straight forward. You should expect gerberas to wilt and decline after a week or so of vase enjoyment, sooner if no floral food was used. The key to enjoyment of gerberas is like most other fresh cut flowers: select fresh stems, re-cut a portion of that stem off while holding the end under water, and use a measured amount of floral food in a measured amount of room-temperature water.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I saw Jill Slater on Philadelphia's 10! on NBC 10 and she gave me helpful advise on how to keep my flowers for awhile. I just have a few questions. 1) Is it OK to cut the stems of my arrangement on an angle? 2) Is it true that if you touch the flowers petals that it can increase the chances of the flowers to wilt? 3) Can I still "save" my arrangement if the flowers are starting to wilt?

I am really happy whenever I get an arrangement, especially from my boyfriend. I just wanted to show him my appreciation for the beautiful flowers if I can let them last for awhile. Hope to hear from you soon.
-  Jessica - Lindenwold, NJ

Jessica, You don't need to cut stems on an angle, as long as you cut them under water. We used to think that cutting stems on an angle would increase the surface area of the stem and allow the flower to take up more water. The increase in surface area is so small, that we don't recommend cutting stems on an angle. You should cut them under water to get rid of the air bubble that gets trapped in the stem when it isn't in water. So, anytime you freshen your arrangement, you should cut off a small portion of the stem under water. Using a floral preservative will also help extend the time you have to enjoy your flowers. Just be sure to remember to measure the water used in the vase and follow the package directions. Adding too much water to your floral preservative is as bad as adding too little.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project using carnations and I was wondering how much sugar is need to add into a plant (carnations) to simulate a "diabetic" situation for the flower (an overload of sugar) and an "alcoholic" situation (an over load of alcohol) and the same with salt. Can you help me?
-  Nhi - San Jose, CA

Nhi, We have an experiment outline for a similar experiment in our Flower Activity Center. The amount of alcohol and sugar needed is in relation to the amount of water, or concentration. You could, for example, use 1 liter of water for all vases. Then, add to that 1 tablespoon of sugar and then 4 tablespoons of sugar. The same could be done with alcohol, but it is very difficult to dissolve alcohol in water. Be sure to use a commercial floral preservative as your "control" or comparison treatment. Usually one packet of floral preservative can be added to 1 liter of water to create an ideal floral preservative solution. Just be sure to use the same volume of water for each treatment and keep them in the same air temperature. If you vary the concentration of an additive, do it by a significant amount (1% or 4%).
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Is it true aspirin with carbon water makes roses last longer?
-  Connie - Santa Ana, CA

Connie, No, aspirin doesn't prolong the vase life of flowers. Carbonated water has some added minerals, but also won't help extend the life of fresh flowers. You can read more about home remedies that don't work in our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #1.

Using a commercial flower food or preservative is the best way to prolong the enjoyment period of almost any flower.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Why does blue dye travel faster than other colors to carnation petals?
-  Cayla - San Bernardino, CA

Cayla, The rate of uptake depends on the chemistry of the dye. We see sometimes the red travel faster than the blue, and other times blue is the fastest. The dyes are composed of different chemicals, some may be lighter or more easily moved.

And be sure that the concentration of each color dye is identical when you conduct your comparison tests.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science project!I have one question though. Does it matter what type of vase you place your flower (rose) into? I could really use your help.
-  Colin - Jeffersonville, PA

Colin, No, you really can use any type of container that is available. I like to recommend drinking glasses because they are uniform (same shape and color), made of non-reactive materials (glass or plastic), and are often available in a set in the home - so you have identical containers so you have a constant control for your experiment.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project on"Does aspirin prolong the life of cut carnations." Will you please help me? Please answer A.S.A.P!
-  Briana - Sacramento, CA

Briana, No, aspirin doesn't help extend the life of fresh flowers. We have an experiment outline that is much like the one you're doing. it is in our Flower Activity Center and you'll want to download Experiment #1. If you could grind aspirin finely enough, you could get a powder that has the potential to be dissolved in water. It would form a weak acid, that lowers the pH of the solution. This lower pH will make it easier for the water to be taken up by the flower, but it won't extend the life. The flower needs an energy source, a simple sugar. However, adding sugar to the vase water will cause some problems. It will provide energy for the flower, but also will provide energy for the growth of stem-clogging bacteria and fungi. So, the best solution for fresh cut flowers is a commercial preservative which has both an acid (biocide) and an energy source (sugar).
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have one question. Please, tell me, a black rose is real or legend? Please, help me!
-  Sergiy - Ukraine

Sergiy, It's a legend, but we are getting closer. There is no black rose, yet. Geneticists have some very dark burgundy roses that can, in dim light, pass for black. I've heard reports that one has been patented in Europe, but I can't verify that. So, we're getting closer to that elusive black rose.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Does asprin Affect the growth of fresh cut flowers?
-  Teddi - Edgemoor, SC

Teddi, No, aspirin doesn't extend the life of fresh flowers. If you could grind an aspirin into a fine powder, you could then dissolve it in water. Once dissolved, it forms a weak acid. The acid lowers the pH of the water, making the water easier to be taken up by the flower. But, there is no energy source (simple sugars) in aspirin, so it won't prolong the life of the flower. You can read more about home remedies that don't work in our Flower Activity Center.

The best way to enhance your enjoyment for the longest time is to use flower food/preservative in the measured proportions noted on the packet, keep the container clean and free of bacteria, change the water and re-cut the stems frequently, and remove any foliage that will be below the water line.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I buy my wife a lot of roses. I always try to buy the Roses that are tight and not open. The problem seems to be that many times the Roses will not open. The question is why not? I know how and do cut the stems correctly, clean water, mixture of powder that comes with the flowers is always added. Is there something I am missing or can do to make these Roses bloom. Costly Roses without blooming is a shame and a waste. Thank you for your help.
-  Frank - Plainfield, IL

Frank, What a great husband you are to buy your wife roses so often! I'm sure she feels lucky to have you and the roses! When you buy roses that are too tight, they may not ever open. There really isn't anything you can do to make the buds open. If one of the sepals (green petal like structures that cover the petals) has not reflexed back or "opened" the bud, the flower bud may never open. Much of this depends on the cultivar, but many roses that have not even one sepal open will not open. It has to do with when they are harvested. Some, unfortunately, are harvested without having one sepal open in the hopes that it will open.

So, use your keen eye and look for those open or reflexed sepals before you buy.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Which flower (roses, carnations or lilies) absorb the most coloring food? Why?
-  Mariela - Freeport, NY

Mariela, I like to use carnations to dye the flowers. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to find, and have only one flower per stem. You could use roses or lilies in the experiment, too. The rate of dye uptake is related to how much water is taken up. The more petals a flower has, the more water it will probably take up; this will translate into a greater uptake of the dye in solution. The carnation has more petals than roses, so I suspect that more dye would be taken up by the carnation than the rose.

If you have a good scale and some plastic wrap, you could tightly cover the top of the vase with plastic wrap and insert the stem through a small hole in the plastic wrap. Weighing the vase each day will show you how much water and dye were absorbed by each flower, since you would eliminate the water lost to evaporation.
  - Bridget

I need to know a ? My flowers are almost dead I got and I wanna save them for memories. I heard that u can spray hairspray on them and they will save is that true?
-  Donessa

Donessa, Don't spray fresh flowers with hair spray to preserve them. You can hang some of the larger flowers upside down to dry them. You can press some smaller flowers in the telephone book. Clemson University has a great website to help you preserve flowers.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My question for you is to kill bacteria designers should treat flower containers with: A) soap, B) water, C) bleach or D) Dextrose?
-  Christine - Epanola, Ontairo, Canada

Christine, There are some commercial products on the market today that are designed to help clean floral containers. But the use of hot, soapy water to scrub the container walls, rinsing well, and then allowing the container to air dry will remove most all of the harmful organisms that shorten the vase life of flowers. Some people who don't want to scrub the container walls may use some harsher chemicals to do the "scrubbing" for them.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am a florist in the UK and would like to know what flowers I could use to make different arrangements for the reception desk in a ladies hair salon. They need to be able to cope with the atmosphere and last possibly upto 2 weeks at a time, please could you advise me? Thank you.
-  Gill - Gloucester, England

Gill, Keeping flowers looking presentable for two weeks will be a challenge, even under ideal conditions. Alstromeria can add an exotic look and should be able to withstand the hair salon environment. I'd encourage you to see some of the Australian flowers being exported, the wax flower and kangaroo flowers are two you might check into. Depending on the motif of the salon, you might look into some tropical flowers. They can be a bit sturdier and last longer at warmer temperatures than some other flowers. Things like orchids, ginger, and bird-of-paradise might fit the bill, too.

Be sure to use and replace the water mixed with floral preservative/food no matter which flowers you decide to use.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, This is Lauren! I am doing a science project and it is on white daises. I have a few questions. What is the ingredients to dye daises? What is in the flower food they give you at the store? How different is when a white daise with no stem cut? White daise with stem cut? White daise with flower food? White daise home dyed? Which on of those lasts longer?
-  Lauren - Auburn, CA

Lauren, Fresh flowers need a source of energy to continue to grow and develop, whether they've been dyed or not. So, it is important to add the flower food to the vase. Dyed flowers should last as long as flowers that weren't dyed. The key difference will be the use of flower preservatives. It is also critical to measure the water/preservative ratio that you use in the vase...follow the directions on the packet carefully. Too much preservative in solution is as bad as too little.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project about dyeing different kinds of flowers to see which one absorbs color the best. I'm supposed to do research on the subject, and I was hoping that you would be able to give me some useful information on how this works, and anything else that you think would be useful.
-  Hannah

Hannah, We have an experiment outline that will help you in our Flower Activity Center and you'll want to download Experiment #1. Be sure to use floral preservative in with the dye. I'd encourage you to mix a big batch of floral preservative, then divide it among several vases to which you add the food dye. White Carnations are among the easiest flowers to use, and relatively inexpensive. Give yourself a few days, 3-6, to see much dye appears in the flower although some will appear within a few hours.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science fair project on would tyelonal work better on roses or tulips, and would asprin work better on roses or tuplis? what do you think and why?
-  Gianna -Iberia, MO

Gianna, The flowers probably won't respond to either Tylenol or aspirin because there are no nutrients in either tablet that the flower needs. We have an experiment outline to help you in our Flower Activity Center. You will want to download Experiment #1 and perhaps the observation sheet. Ground aspirin will form a weak acid when ground finely enough and dissolved in water; I'm not sure how much of the Tylenol will dissolve. There's also the possibility that an undissolved particle from the aspirin or Tylenol may block the water uptake in the stem of the flower and cause premature wilting. The flowers really need an energy source, so be sure to use a floral preservative as a 'control' or comparison.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I need help on finding research for my science fair project and it is about me trying to see which happens faster having a flower in a vase with warm water and food coloring, having a flower with warm water, baby oil, and food coloring,and I have two more except they are used with cold water. So please Dr. Bridget please help me because I really want a good grade.
-  Victoria - Millington, TN

Gina, Victoria, Heat is a catalyst, meaning that it speeds up a reaction. If you use warm water, it will be taken up faster than cold water. So, you'll see the color in petals for flowers that have warm vase water faster than the petals for flowers in cool water. Baby oil will clog the stems and not allow water to be taken up into the stem. I'd encourage you to use a floral preservative in the vase water for all of them to help extend the life of the fresh flowers. Be sure to measure the water and follow the package directions. We have some additional information for you at our Flower Activity Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project as to which over the counter medication works best for preserving carnations - Advil, Extra Strength Tylenol and generic aspirin. I had a control group of plain tap water. The plain tap water flowers lasted the longest but need to give information as to why and which of the three products would work best. Any help you could give me would be great! Thank You!
-  Karla - St. Peter, MN

Karla, None of the medicines will help the flowers last longer because none have any nutrients the flowers need. They need sugar and aspirin, Tylenol or Advil don't contain sugar. It is likely that if you ground up the tablets they created some particles that blocked the water uptake. That's why the tap water treatment lasted longest. You can read more about some home remedies in our Flower Activities Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Why do darker colored carnations get dye faster than white carnations?
-  Mckenna - Reno, NV

McKenna, It is more difficult to see the dye being taken up in darker flowers, which is why we recommend using white or pale colored flowers. The dye is taken up in darker flowers just as fast as in light colored flowers, it's just not readily visible.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, What causes some long stem roses to droop after a few days? They were cut and placed in warm water. I cut the drooping flowers to a 1" stem and placed them in a bud vase and they perked up.
-  Ashley - Barlett, TN

Ashley, You can get some information on coloring flowers and what plants need from our Flower Activity Center. The Experiment #2 can give you some information on coloring the daises. The potatoes and apples will absorb the color by osmosis. They dye in solution will go from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Flowers will absorb the water and dye as a result of capillary action, much like drinking from a straw pulls water (or a milkshake) up a stem.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I've always loved flowers, but get so stumped whenever I enter a florist or need to order flowers for an event. I want to broaden my knowledge of flowers-the different types and their individual characteristics. Is there a volume, maybe a floral encyclopedia or a botany book that you can recommend? I love the information on your site, but am looking for something in a book form that I can read. Do your experts have any favorites to suggest? Thank you!
-  Alison

Alison, You're the person for whom we made this site! I wouldn't point you to a book because none has up-to-date AND comprehensive information to compare to the web. We have a flower encyclopedia and point to a few other sites that have good ones as well. But websites don't compare to actually buying and enjoying fresh flowers often. I always have fresh flowers on our kitchen table.

Over time, you begin to learn their names, how long they last, and what you like, and what is seasonal. I would encourage you to develop a relationship with the floral person where you buy your flowers. Talk with them and ask what's new or freshest, then buy some and see how you like them. I love stock because it is fragrant, but others may not like the fragrance. I also love white spray roses, but not everyone likes white or more dainty rose buds. There is a world of beautiful flowers out there, but see what you can get locally and find some favorites of your own.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I don't know if this is the kind of question you'd usually get so if not, I'm sorry! I am getting married on June 30th and am currently looking at options for flowers. I was wondering if you can suggest any alternatives that are available in the same color as a deep purple/ plum colored calla lilly or ranunculus. I am told that they can be expensive and or hard to get in the midwest at that time of year but cannot find alternatives of the same color. All I see are either light lavendar colored flowers or bright, joker purple.

Also, I love the ranunculus bloom, really thick with petals...do you know of any similar flowers that have that...almost cabbage-like petal arrangement, whether in deep purple, white or even pale green? Either way thanks very much for your time and have a wonderful day!
-  Laura - Chicago, IL

Laura, This is a tough question for two reasons. First, there aren't many similar flower forms to ranuculus and second, it is tough to say what flowers your local professionals will have. I would steer you toward stock, a fragrant flower that is similar in form to snapdragon, but with round flowers that are a bit thick and may look "cabbage like." You can get some really interesting colors of carnations and I'm confident your local floral professional could get those near your wedding date.

They would be the brightest purple I could think of. I would encourage you to take your color preferences (both likes and dislikes) and your budget and dates and visit at least two floral professionals. They will give you some great ideas about what they can do, provide you with inspiration for what appeals to your tastes and budget, and then deliver a great experience. Many florists charge for the service, but I feel it is well worth the money to see what they can do to make your special day even more memorable.

Best of luck on your impending marriage!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, One of my employees gave me a rose and it is absolutely beautiful. I have had it almost 2 weeks and it has not attempted to drop a petal. The stem is getting new growth and growing so quickly you can almost see it grow and I was wondering if you could possibly plant it and it would grow into a rose bush? I know this is a strange question, but I have never had a rose stay so healthy and show new growth like this one.
-  Vicki - Russellville, AR

Vicki, Yours isn't a strange question, it is one I've had before. Many people want to start plants from flowers they receive. It is challenging to get woody stems to produce roots. If you could, many rose roots aren't hardy - won't withstand - the cold winter weather in many parts of the country. Most roses grown for home gardeners and professionals alike are budded or grafted onto a hardier rootstock. That's why you often see a swollen stem base of a rose plant and shoots that emerge from the roots produce a rose of a different color. So, enjoy the stem you have, perhaps call the florist and identify the cultivar (particular name of the rose) and see if you can buy a plant from your local retailer or even on line.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Where can I locate a description of the action of sunlight on a leaf of a plant or a tree?
-  Arthur

Arthur, There are many sites that explain the process of photosynthesis. I like this one. Photosynthesis is basically a chemical reaction of changing carbon dioxide, in the presence of sunlight on/in chlorophyll pigment, and water into energy or a simple sugar. The sugars are converted to many things to help the plant grow.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My 2nd grade daughter is doing an experiment , with the question of Can flowers still absorb water once there cut from the plant. Now I've been on google but ant info they give me is seventh grade or higher. in her experiment she's going to split one carnation putting the stems in water with food coloring another carnation will be done the same but put into wet dirt. What I'm looking for is a reference why we put flowers in water verses wet dirt the way we grow them.
-  Rachel - Tacoma, WA

Rachel, You can use me as a reference. The roots will absorb water differently than a stem will absorb water. The stem end put into soil or dirt will try to reproduce the roots and take up water. The stem end in water will absorb it readily, without roots. Plants have the unique ability to reproduce missing parts, often from a very small plant part. This is called totipotency. We have some experiment outlines available at our Flower Activity Center. You might download all three for some additional information.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My daughter did an experiment for her 3rd grade classs. She had three flowers. She put one carnation in a glass of water and 15 drops of blue food coloring, one in a glass of 100 percent grape juice and one in a glass of Hawaiian punch. The blue food coloring colored the flower, but the grape juice and the Hawaiian punch gave no result. Is it because of the sugar and just not enough dye in the other solutions?
-  Cathy - Oregon, WI

Cathy, It was not due to the sugar, but rather the concentration of color in each solution. The blue food coloring probably had the highest concentration of color. We have a website set up to help you with this kind of experiment. It is our Flower Activity Center.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I'm doing a science experiment one how much water flowers obsorb in comaparison to how much food colouring takes affect. Im trying to use about 3-4 different flowers for the experiment. my question is which flowers should I use for best results and what colour food dye should I use, I heard red aborbs very quickly so I dont want to use that since I need the experiment to take a few days rather than hours.
-  Kobrah - Toronto, Candada

Kobrah, You will want to visit our Flower Activity Website and download the Flower Color Experiment. I would suggest you use a white carnation or rose. Red and blue food color will work well for the experiment. I wouldn't worry too much about it being absorbed too quickly. In the experiment I have going now, the blue is absorbed faster than the red. Just use a high concentration of dye to water & preservative. It is important to use the floral preservative to keep the flowers looking good and lasting as long as possible.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Can you put tulip petal in water? If so how long and how do you keep them fresh until you want to use them like rose petals? I made an arrangement with 20 stem tulips. Ten stems of tulips petals were put at the bottom of the vase and the last ten were then put into the vase with the stem and petal still in tack with beargrass in the middle to create a great effect and was just wonder about the water part. The floweres are in the cooler where they can stay cool, but their is no water in any of the vases. Please help.
-  Sunshine - Houston, TX

Sunshine, The tulips, like other fresh flowers, need a source of water and energy. They won't last long, even at a cool temperature, without some water and floral preservative. When flowers are out of water for several hours, the stem needs to be cut while holding the end under water. Even flowers out of water for a short time benefit from re-cutting the stem end under water. Keep the flowers cool, but do find a way to get them in a solution of water and preservative.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Florists say that a vase of flowers will last longer if the stems of the flowers are crushed and if you add a little sugar to the water. Do these variables really affected the life of the flowers?
-  Jacob

Jacob, We don't recommend that people crush the stem ends, especially of woody flowering stems. We used to suggest this to improve the surface area there was to absorb water. Science has shown us that it doesn't help and the damage may help to promote the release of a compound (ethylene) that contributes to the death of flowers. So, don't crush the stems.

Also, don't use sugar. Sugar is one of many home remedies that people love to talk about! It is true that plants produce their own sugars in the process of photosynthesis. However, adding sugar to a vase of flowers will promote the growth of stem-clogging bacteria and fungi. So, do use the floral preservative that comes with the flowers (or that you can purchase from your floral professional), but save the sugar for tea or coffee.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing my bouquet for my wedding this june. I found an online store that delivers fresh flowers on the particular day of your choice. It is reasonably priced for orchids and I was curious....If I use flower preservative on them overnight, how long throughout the day of my wedding should the stay "firm" looking (not wilted)? Do you know what a florist would do to lengthen their fresh look when the flowers are out of water?
-  Kim - Pittsburgh, PA

Kim, You are correct to use floral preservative for the stems. You can also use water picks or tubes. Fill each tube with water and preservative solution then simply insert the stem end (after you've cut a small portion off while holding that stem end under water). Tropical orchids will suffer from chilling injury if kept below 45°F, so you probably won't need to keep them too cool (keep them out of the refrigerator). Store them in a cool place, away from bright sunlight or warm/cool drafts. The orchids should last a day for you if handled properly.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, How to keep a jasmine flowers on buds position from today to day after tomarow, after that they get a normal position.In this method they give perfume, please give a solution for that.
-  Thamil - Chennai, Tamilnadu

Thamil, Jasmine flowers do give off a fragrance when they open and are warmed (come to room temperature). If you want to keep the buds closed, you can keep them cool, about 45°F. There is nothing to prevent them from opening. If you want to open them faster, keep them in the preservative solution and put them in a room that is 60F to 75°F and they will open fairly quickly. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by position, but I suspect it means opening. Keep them cool to keep the buds tight.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My daughter is doing a science fair project and we would like different ideas of how to dye different flowers by adding food dye/koolaid etc. Does it make a difference on what type of flower... if the stem is very tough will it be more difficult for the dye to change the colour of the white flower..thanks..any other ideas would be so helpful.
-  Sandy - Surrey, BC

Sandy, We have a website set-up to help you with this project at our Flower Activity Center. I recommend that you use a white carnation or rose. Using a single-stemmed flower can make it easier to "see" the dye move up the stem. I also recommend that you use food color. Colorful drinks, such as Kool Aid, don't have a high enough concentration of color to see it when it gets absorbed.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, When you buy a fresh floral arrangment from a florist, it has a foam-like substance in the vase that helps to hold the flowers in place. It is usually not a solid piece of of styrofoam, but I cannot seem to locate any of this in the craft stores. Do you know what this is and if there is anywhere that I can purchase it? I enjoy arranging my own flowers, but sometimes have difficulty getting them just the way I want them in the vase and also it helps to hide the stems with a clear vase.
-  Brenda

Brenda, You're looking for floral foam. There is a brand (Oasis) that is commonly used to refer to the floral foam in general (much like the brand Kleenex is often used for a disposable tissue). There are several kinds, so be sure you get one that can be used for fresh flowers (not silk or dried flowers). I found one source on line but there are many others. Use your search engine and use the words "floral foam" or "Oasis" and you'll find some retailers of the brand and generic floral foam.

You should soak the foam in a small basin of the sink, filled with warm water and a commercial preservative (be sure to follow the label directions). Float the bricks with the small holes pointing up to the ceiling so the water & preservative will slowly be absorbed. Don't force the foam into the water & preservative. Then, you can cut the foam to fit the container and fill the container with the left-over water & preservative mixture.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project at school and I need to know how I can change the color of daisies and how does it absorb the color?
-  Bryttnee - Santa Paula, CA

Bryttnee, We have an experiment outline and observation sheet to help you with your flower experiment. It is at our Flower Activity Center. You can use white dasies and food coloring to change the color of the white petals. I would encourage you to be sure to use the floral preservative with the dye. It will help extend the life of the flowers.

How do flowers absorb water and dye? Part of the vascular system, the xylem, carries water up the stem much like a straw helps you draw water up from a glass. Transpiration is the process of water coming out of the petals, and that helps to pull water up through the xylem. They dye goes along for the ride, but can't come out the stomates. So, it gets deposited at the petal tips.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I have a question that I was asked at a science fair but since i am going to another science fair, I really need this answer. What are the components of commercial preservative?
-  Yulia - Ohio

Yulia, While the companies who manufacture the preservative keep the recipe a secret, the ingredients are basically to items: an energy source (sugar) and a biocide. There aren't enough leaves on the stem of a flower for it to conduct photosynthesis in an amount that would sustain the developing flower. So, it needs a source of energy to keep growing and opening. The other component, a biocide, lowers the pH of the solution and has other ingredients to keep stem-clogging bacteria and fugi from growing quickly.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, An organaization that I belong to (501-C3) does singing Valentines. We use red carnations and prepare them the day before. I have learned many things from your site that we are doing wrong but I still have one questions. The water tubes! Is there a way to get them into the tubes with out having to make the rubber stopper to tube opening larger. Is they a way to cut them that might vaciltate easy use. It seems the big knobs on carnations do not like to enter the tubes. Should the water in tubes have food in them. In tap water OK or is distilled better. We just want our flower to look nice when they arrive at the lucky receiver.
-  Barbara - Tulsa, OK

Barbara, What a nice accent to your singing Valentines! You should use floral preservative in the water that goes into the tubes. You can mix a gallon of floral preservative solution in a cleaned and rinsed milk jug. A cleaned and rinsed two-liter pop bottle can work well, too. You should wait as long as possible before making up the tubes so they don't run out of water. It isn't a good idea to cut the stem to make it fit better into the tube.

I realize it is a challenge to get the leaf nodes (the bumps) into the tube. If the tube fits snugly, it will not leak water. Can you find a larger tube? Maybe not for this year, but maybe for next year. Keep the carnations cool, but don't store them below 38°F-40°F so they don't get brown petals from chilling injury. Your songs and blooms will brighten many spirits this Valentine's Day!
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project on the effect of different household chemicals on cut flowers. I put six different Tulips in six different chemicals. the chemicals are Windex, Bleach, Miracle Gro Water, Plain Water, Motor Oil, and Urea (grass fertilizer). What do you think will kill the Tulip the fastest? and which one do you think will last the longest? What is your reasoning behind what you said? thank you so much for your help on my science project!!!
-  Katie - Lehi, UT

Katie, It is a bit of a twist from the experiments I'm used to seeing where you want the flowers to live longer. I'm not sure which will kill the flower fastest. I'm not sure if the flower can absorb the oil, so those flowers may die first. Bleach added to water was thought to help extend the life of the flower. It doesn't since it doesn't have an energy source. I'd encourage you to look at our Flower Activity Website.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am interested in teaching my young children more about flowers...starting with basic flower variety names. I have often seen wonderful posters (very large posters) in flower shops, that identify the various flowers and greenery that are often (not always) available. Would you be able to direct me as to where I can purchase posters like these?
-  Katharina Doyle

Katharina, I've seen some posters for edible flowers and herbs but not for the varieties of fresh flowers. Those may come from floral wholesalers and may not be available to the general public. I could not find any of those available from the national associations.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My daughter is having an October wedding. We live in South Carolina. Could you please help me find out what flowers are in season in our area. We live in the Midlands of the state.
-  Linda

Linda, You will have lots of flower choices for an October wedding in the Midlands of South Carolina. You could take your budget, color preferences, and any fabric choices to several local florists. I'd encourage you to talk with them about the creative ideas they have for early fall weddings. Most professional florists will charge you for a consultation fee, but then it can be applied to the cost of the wedding flowers.

They can show you photographs of flowers that they've worked with and some of the truly creative ideas they have. I often suggest to brides to talk with more than one florist. Like caterers, they have some products they like to us and come up with great combinations. The mix of ingredients that professionals use to make great tasting food is much like the mix of products florists use.

Having a few consultations will give you some idea of the range of things they can do for you at that time of year. You might see some lilies you like. Roses are always a romantic addition to any bouquet.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I was doing an experiment about flower dye and I wanted to know why a white carnation changes color more easily than a white rose. Does it have something to do with the composition or is it something else?
-  Jim - Los Angeles, CA

Jim, It probably has more to do with how much water is lost through transpiration than anything else. The dye moves along with the water, but can't move out of the stem. There probably is less tissue through which the dye needs to move. Their vascular systems are quite similar. When the water and air temperatures are the same, the rate of water flow up the stem should be similar. So, that leaves us with the difference in the petals themselves.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, My friend and I have the idea of starting a flower shop business of our own. We have just enrolled for a flower-arrangement class. class will start in a few weeks. but, I am anxious to know the answers to these questions. as, I doubt the instructor will tell us anything besides flower-arrangement. Bridget, here are my questions. 1. WHAT KIND OF WATER IS BEST FOR FLOWERS? 2. IF I PICK FLOWERS FROM MY GARDEN, MUST I HAVE THEM SPRAYED WITH WATER? WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY "CUTTING THE STEM UNDER WATER?" 3. WHAT IS THE WATER-TUBE FOR? 4. I'VE HEARD OF FLOWER-PRESERVATIVES, BUT WHAT IS REHYDRATION & IS THERE AN INGREDIENT FOR REHYDRATION? Thank-you very much. Please explain for me.
-  Esther

Esther, You are about to embark on an interesting adventure as a professional florist. The flower arranging courses will help get you started, but I would also encourage you to work for a short term for an existing florist (to see how some things can be done) and also to develop a business plan. A great book to get you started is the E-Myth by Gerber.

Fresh flowers, whether shipped dry or in a floral preservative solution, need to have the stem re-cut under water. This is done by holding the bottom two inches of the stem under water and removing the bottom one inch with a sharp knife or scissors. The cut doesn't have to be angled, but it does need to be made under water to restart the flow of water up the stem.

Water tubes are used to ship some flowers, especially roses, that don't travel or ship well dry (without floral preservative). The process of rehydrating flowers is what happens when you recut the stem under water for a flower shipped dry and then put into a solution of water and preservative to get the water flowing up the stems to maintain the flowers' longevity.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, Does asprin prolong the life of plants?
-  Felix - Perris, CA

Felix, No, aspirin doesn't prolong the life of fresh flowers or plants. We have some information available at our Flower Activity Center. You might want to download both Experiment #1 and Experiment #3 to see what home remedies don't help fresh flowers. Experiment #3 will give you some information on what plants need.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I am doing a science fair project, my project is finding the life span of a white rose that has been dyed and another white rose that has not been dyed...What should I do?
-  Colin - Jeffersonville, PA

Colin, You should visit our Flower Activity Center and download Experiment #1 and Experiment #2. The first experiment has information on how to conduct an experiment with some home remedies that don't work. Be sure you use a floral preservative in the vase water for your experiment. You can read about coloring flowers with dye in the second experiment. Just be sure you keep the flowers in the same room, so they have the same environmental conditions. You might also find our observation sheet helpful for collecting your data.
  - Bridget

Dear Bridget, I want peonies at my June 9th wedding and I have seen scads of them in spring wedding magazines in articles about June Brides, however I am having trouble finding a florist who will work with peonies? What is the deal? Are they in season in June or not? Why are they in the magazines and looking lush and beautiful? Will this flower work? Who should I go through in Colorado? Help? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
-  Jodie - Loveland, CO

Jodie, Peonies are sumptuous flowers and have been seen in many bride magazines. They should be available in May and June. The later in June your wedding is the more limited their availability. Why are some florists reluctant to use peonies in weddings? Partly, it may be that peonies are limited in availability at that time of year in Colorado. I would always defer to the florist. They are the professional and they should know their limits.

If they are reluctant to use peonies, there likely is a good horticultural reason for it. I would ask them about alternatives. I realize that there are few good substitutes for the look of this flower. Take your color preferences back to those florists and ask for some creative alternatives. I think they'd rather have you be thrilled with what they can do than maybe be satisfied with something they are reluctant to do. I'm confident that most professional florists will exceed your expectations with what they are confident they can do for you.
  - Bridget

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