benc53•25d ago

I keep seeing florists cut stems straight across instead of at an angle

I was at a big flower market in Chicago last month and watched at least five different people do it. They just snip the ends flat. That seals the stem and the flower can't drink water properly. I tested it myself with a batch of roses, and the angled cut ones lasted a full 4 days longer. It's such a basic thing, but it makes a huge difference in vase life. Has anyone else had to correct this for new hires in their shop?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cole25d ago

That reminds me of a weird thing my grandma used to do... she'd put a penny in the vase water. Said it kept the flowers fresh. We tried it once with some daisies and honestly, they did seem perkier. No idea if it was the copper or just a coincidence, but she swore by it for years. Makes you wonder how many of these little flower tricks are actually based on something real.

vera_murphy17d ago

Yeah the penny trick might actually work.

haydenfisher25d ago

My buddy's mom always swore by adding a splash of clear soda to the water, like Sprite. She said the sugar fed the flowers. We made fun of her until his prom corsage outlasted everyone else's by two days. Still not sure if it was science or luck.