Flowers deliver the ‘wow’

    Given with love, received with joy, cut flowers are among the most popular of all Mother’s Day gifts. To really “wow” Mom this year, help her keep that bouquet blooming and beautiful for as long as possible – with basic training in the lives of cut flowers courtesy of “Bouquet Boot Camp.”     Don’t worry; no one will shout at you and there won’t be any muddy obstacle courses involved.
    “Every mom loves flowers for Mother’s Day, even if she doesn’t know the names of the various varieties,” says Dr. Bridget Behe, the “Flower Doctor” and a professor in Michigan State University’s horticulture department. “Once you learn about flowers, you grow to appreciate and love them even more.”
    Here are a few basics that can help extend the life of cut flowers:
• When choosing flowers from a florist or market, opt for those with upright, firm petals and buds just beginning to open. If the leaves are yellow, spotted or drooping, they’re old. Also, skip broken or bent stems.
• The water in which the stems are stored should smell fresh and clean, and the stems should be clean, not slimy.
• Store your bouquet in a cool place before giving it to Mom.
• Commercial flower food/preservative solution is a must. Carefully follow the mixing instructions on the packet.
• It is best to use warm water in the vase with your fresh-cut stems. If the water feels too hot or cold for you, then it’s not the right temperature for the flowers either. Warm water is taken up by stems faster and the warmth makes it easier to dissolve the flower food/preservative.
• If any leaves from the stems fall below the water line, remove them. Leaves in the water will promote bacterial growth that may limit the water uptake by the flowers.
• Before placing flowers into water, re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife or scissors. Be careful not to crush the stems.
• Keep fresh flowers out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources and drafts such as air vents or fans.
    Still have questions on how to keep your fresh flowers from withering away too soon? Log on to www.FlowrMD.com for more information or to e-mail a question to the Flower Doctor.