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FLORISTS' TIPS |
| If you want to use Oasis
again store it in water. If it is allowed to dry out it will not absorb the water
properly the next time it is used. |
| To keep plants watered
whilst you are away for a few days, place one end of a pipe cleaner into the soil by the
plant and the other end into some water. The pipe cleaner will gradually draw up the
water. |
| To keep plants alive
during a longer stay away. Place a towel in the bottom of the bath and add 1"
of water. Place house plants on top of the towel. They will draw up the water
whilst you are away. |
| Don't buy roses in tight
bud as the chances are they will not open. Buds should be unfurling slight. |
| Spray dried flowers with
hair lacquer to prevent them dropping. |
| To fluff up dried roses,
hold rose head over a steaming kettle and gently tease out petals. |
| To remove dust from silk
flowers, put some table salt into a paper bag, put flower heads into back and shake
vigorously. Remove flower from bag and it will be dust free. |
| Poppies keep longer if
you singe the stems over a naked candle flame. |
| To revive dropping tulips
or roses, wrap tightly in newspaper and put into water up to their necks. Leave
overnight. |
| If your roses are
wilting, cut 1cm off stem, wrap in paper, plunge stems into boiling water for
approximately 10 seconds, then put into deep cold water. |
| The sap of the Euphorbia
(of which the poinsetta is one) is an irritant - always remember to wash hands after
handling. |
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| Don't place flowers in
direct sunlight, over radiators or on top of television sets. Keep in a well
ventilated part of the room out of direct sunlight. |
| Don't place flowers next
to fruit as fruit gives off a gas which prematurely ages flowers. |
| Remove dead flowers as
these also give off gases which affect the others. |
| Non-scented flowers last
longer! |
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Lily stamens should be
removed as soon as the bloom is sufficiently open as the pollen can damage fabric and
polished wood surfaces. |
| If the flower head is too
heavy and the stem is hollow, put a garden cane up inside the stem to support bloom. |
| Soak vases overnight in
bleach to remove bacteria. Dirty vases shorten the life of cut flowers considerably |
| To help when repotting
plants into larger pots, place the current pot into the larger pot and push compost firmly
into the gap between the two. Gently remove the inner pot which leaves the correct
size hole into which the plant can be dropped. |
| By accident I was wiping
dust from a plant with a wet sponge containing fabric softener. Not only did the
plant shine for about 8 weeks, it smelt wonderful. Thanks to Grace Galton for sending in this one. |
| To make tulips stay upright poke a pin through the stem just
below the head. Courtesy of Sheerie Foley |
