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Introduction
Growing flowers and foliage suitable for arranging starts in the garden, but by no means ends there. Use of good harvest and post harvest techniques can help improve the longevity of cut flowers. I`ve outlined the most important factors below.
For more informaion on growing a garden for cut flowers, please refer to Cut Flowers 1 - Planting
What Stage To Pick
The correct time to pick a flower for arranging largely depends upon the type of flower. Generally, harvesting as the flowers are opening is a safe `rule` to follow. That way, the colour of the flower is fully developed.
Picking should occur in the morning, when the stems are stiff and full of moisture. Where possible, pick using sharp scissors or secateurs and place directly into tepid water in a bucket as you wander around the garden, and then re-treat as applicable prior to arranging. The cooler you keep the flowers after picking, the better they will last. This also applies where large bunches or bundles of flowers are placed tightly in buckets prior to arrangement. Where this happens, divide into smaller bunches and place into a cool room as soon as possible.
Once arranged, there are a few things that you can do that can aid the longevity of your display. Water should be changed daily, the vase cleaned out and refilled with cold water. Drop a couple of teaspoons of sugar (more for large vases), and an aspirin into the water. If, after a couple of days, the water is getting smelly and you cannot change it, add a couple of drops of household bleach to help clean it up.
The sugar helps to replace the goodness that the flowers would have been getting had the stems not been cut, and the aspirin helps the stems take up the water.
When arranging flowers always remove any buds and leaves that will be in the water as these will only rot and taint the water. Once arranged, vases should be placed out of direct sunlight, and in as cool a position as possible.
Post Harvest Treatment
Different flowers have differing requirements during and after harvest (picking). This is mainly as a result of the variations in stem types - soft, woody, milky etc. The following table gives a summary of keeping various flowers fresh:
|
Flower |
How to Keep it Fresh |
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Anemones |
Scrape ends of the stems and rest in water for 3/4 of their length for 1/2 an hour. |
|
Aster |
Remove most of the leaves and split the stem end. |
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Azalea |
Slit the stems. |
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Calendula |
Pick when the flowers are fully open, and scrape the stems. |
|
Camellia |
Slit the stems. |
|
Canterbury Bells |
Place stems in boiling water for 30 minutes, and then place in cold water. |
|
Carnations & Dianthus |
Firstly stand stems in deep water for an hour, and then dip the flower heads themselves into water for a couple of minutes to freshen. |
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Chrysanthemum |
Pick flowers when fully open. Crush the ends of the stems and stand in boiling water for one minute. |
|
Cornflower |
Cut stems at an angle and immediately place in water. |
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Dahlia |
Stand stems in boiling water for one minute. |
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Daisy (Marguerite & Shasta) |
Poor boiling water over the ends of the stems. |
|
Delphinium |
Small spikes should be stood in boiling water for 30 seconds, while large spikes should be cut to the required size, turned upside down, filled with water and plugged with cotton wool. |
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Foxglove (Digitalis) |
Cut stems to required length and then dip ends in hot water for one minute then into cold water. |
|
Gardenia |
Lasts well without water, but handling will easily damage the flowers. |
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Geranium |
Crush the stems and stand in water. |
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Gladiolus |
Cut stems when the first flowers open. Cut the spike to the required length and stand in deep water. Remove the top buds as these will not open now that the stem has been cut. |
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Hydrangea |
Crush the woody ends of the stems, scorch over a flame and stand in water for two hours. |
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Iris |
Pick when first bud opens fully. Scrape the stems. |
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Larkspur |
Cut stems when the flowers are 3/4 open. Slit ends of the stems and snap off the top buds as these will not open now that the stem has been cut. |
|
Lilies |
Cut stems at an angle and stand in deep water for one hour. Remember to remove the pollen covered stamens as these can stain whatever they drop down onto. |
|
Lupin |
Place stems in boiling water for 15-20 seconds, then into cold water. Fill hollow stems with water and plug with cotton wool. |
|
Pansy & Viola |
Dip flowers in water completely before arranging. |
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Phlox |
Place stems in shallow hot water for 30 seconds, then into cold water for half an hour. |
|
Poppy |
Pick at full bud stage. Scorch ends of the stems over a flame, or by dipping in boiling water for 30 seconds. Stand in cold water. |
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Rose |
Cut when in bud, just as the colour is showing. Split the ends of woody stems. Stand ends of the stems in warm water for 30 seconds. |
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Snapdragon |
Split the ends of the stems and place in deep water for half an hour. |
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Stock |
Split the ends of the stems and crush lightly. Place in boiling water for half an hour. Snap off the top buds as these will not open now that the stem has been cut. |
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Sweet pea |
Stand stems in deep water for several hours before arranging. |
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Violet |
Immerse bunches of violets totally in water. |
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Wallflower |
Split ends of the stems and crush lightly. Place in boiling water for half an hour. |
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Zinnia |
Zinnias are picked when the flowers are fully open. Dip stem ends in boiling water for 30 seconds and immediately plunge into cold water. |
Remember, the less handling that the flowers receive the better quality they will be and the longer they will last.
Written by Katherine Winson
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