Evening star., 1940-09-21
Tests Made
On Keeping
Flowers
Experts Working on
Ways to Prolong
Life of Blooms
BY LOUISE HENDEY.

Sometime or other you have cut a
bunch of flowers and tastefully ar
ranged them only to find them
wilted few hours later. 1t is a
disheartening experience!
Much has been written on the
subject. We have been taught to
dip into boiling water the cut tens
of some flowers and to burn the
ends of others over a flame. With
out departing from ways which have
been used successfully for a long
time let us look into this entire mat
ter of cut flowers and see what is
new.
The Horticulture Department of
Ohio State University at Columbus,
Ohio. has been carrying on a num-
ber Of tests along this line and has
recently issued leaflet telling of
its findings.
One of the first things we are told
is that an inch of water in a con-
tainer Is as satisfactory as a con-
tainer filled to the brim since cut
flowers absorb water only through
the cut end. The only exception
made is for carnations, which do
require deep water. If, however,
flowers have been allowed to dry
out, they should be put into deep
water for not less than an hour to
freshen them.
Most flowers should be cut with
scissors or knife and be sure that
whichever you use is sharp. A long
slanting cut will allow more surface
for the absorption Of water Pansies,
vlolas and nasturtiums are best
broken off. Trace the flower stem
to its base and break 1t off there.
1t is better, too, to pull sweet peas.
They seem to last longer so. If the
stems Of woody plants, such as lilacs
and chrysanthemums. are crushed
for several inches it will give similar
aid.
We have all been taught that
changing the water and cutting off
a little of the stems each day would
materially prolong the life of flow
ers. The tests show that such prac-
tice is Of comparatively little value.
And in the majority of cases flowers
with long stems will keep quite as
well as ones with short stems.
A very interesting explanation is
given of this whole subject of trans
piration. AS we all know, most
flowers absorb the greatest uuanti-
ties of water when freshly cut. AS
the flower grows older it is able to
absorb less and less and so gradu.
ally dies.
Excessive Transportation may be
caused by number of factors, but
the most common are high tempera-
lures. low humidity and drafts. AS
the air in the room becomes warmer,
more water may evaporate from the
flower than 1t can replace through
the stem. A draft will increase the
loss, especially If the air is hot.
The proper way to wear a cor
sage has also come in for expert
mentation and contrary to the Oft
repeated assertion that flowers in a
corsage last longer If worn upside
down it has been found that roses
and orchids actually last longer
when worn upright. Gardenias and
sweetpeas are unaffected by posi-
ton.
IT the wilted f1orets on gladiolus
are removed the appearance is
greatly improved, but the flower
spike does not last longer.
or course we all know that GER
tain flowers foul the water more
readily than others, so that it must
be more frequently changed. We
also know that it is usually well to
remove the leaves from the lower
part OF the stem of many flowers to
decrease this very tendency. De.
caying vegetable matter will cause
the flowers to deteriorate quickly.
Marigolds and zinnias are especially
bad offenders.
Just as with nearly every other
problem in Horticulture different
kinds of flowers require different
treatment. Our own experience
often teaches us the better way of
handling most every problem, but
when advice comes from a reliable
source 1t should be given a fair trial.