This way, your mother's day flowers will stay beautiful for the longest time
Thursday 26 September 2019
With Mother's Day the flowers fly over the counter. How do you ensure that such a gift remains beautiful for a long time? NU.nl spoke with a biologist and a flower adviser about the best varieties and various tricks to prevent such ornamental plants from wilting too quickly.
"Put your flowers in a clean vase", is the first advice from flower adviser John Achterberg. Bacteria can cause damage. "And cut the stems diagonally so that they can drink more easily. Lukewarm water is the best option, with a little chrysal. I always work with the powder form, which is absorbed better. If you have good flowers, that is actually enough to make them look beautiful. "
Be careful with drafts and direct sunlight
If you want to give flowers that last, chrysanthemums and carnations are the best options. Although you can also enjoy a good bouquet of roses for a long time, Achterberg says. "They are of course very popular now around Mother's Day. By the way, they are flowers that are less strong than, for example, the anthurium, sunflower or gladiolus. Remember, for example, that roses may suffer from drafts, and do not put them directly in the sun either "Those are things that people sometimes go wrong with." Biologist Maurice Martens explains how a fruit bowl can have a negative effect on a vase of flowers. "Fruit produces ethylene gas, which ensures a faster metabolism of flowers and other fruit. This can therefore lead to a faster ripening and wilting of your flowers. You see, for example, that fruit traders are constantly changing their air. On the other hand, ethylene is used to bloom. promote with non-open flowers. "
These flowers stay beautiful for a long time
- Chrysanthemums
- Carnations
- Ara
- Gerberas
- Lilies
Do not pour too much water into your vase
As Achterberg already indicated, flowers in a clean vase last the longest. Martens adds another tip. "What I often see is that people put way too much water in their vases. You really don't have to fill it completely. If you have your flowers too deep in the water, you will get more bacteria and fungi. flowers will then become closed, so that they are less able to pull the water upwards. "
"A layer of water of no more than 10 centimeters is sufficient", the biologist continues. “That also has an additional advantage. If you use little water, you don't have to throw so many of those fabrics out of such a bag. They are usually meant for a liter, so you can use that bag multiple times. In any case, it is good to change the water regularly. "
If you no longer have any nutrients at home, that is not a disaster, according to Achterberg. "As long as you trim the flowers well and put them in lukewarm water, that's basically enough. In the past, a little sugar was added, or a penny. But that's a bit outdated by now."
Longer pleasure from flowering outdoor plants
"At the moment there are also many outdoor plants that are wonderful to give to mother," Achterberg continues. "Petunias and geraniums are doing very well. But recently it was still freezing at night, so keep in mind that you are covering summer plants. For example, with a sheet. Bringing in indoors is even better."
Martens also wants to emphasize that plants as a mother's day gift are a better option. "Flowers in a vase are of course beautiful, but after a week that is a bit over. Foxglove is a beautiful perennial plant, and you will also enjoy it next year. Sage and lavender smell very nice again."
"In urban environments, much attention is now being paid to helping wild bees, bumble bees and butterflies," explains Martens. “With such plants you give them the opportunity to find more food. So you could also think about that if you want to surprise your mother. Then you can also give feverfew, which has flowers that produce a lot of nectar. And for the occasion it is of course also appropriate. "
Source: NU.nl - Image: Stan Hulsen (NU.nl)