- Sugar added to water provides flowers additional food to help keep them looking healthy and colorful. Sugar also can fuel bacteria growth, so it must always be added in conjunction with an acidifier and a germicide. Added alone, sugar will shorten the life of your flowers by stimulating the growth of bacteria.
- When adding sugar, mix 2 tsp. per liter of water and add 1 tsp. of vinegar for acidity. Add another 1/4 tsp. of a 4 percent bleach or 1 tsp. of a 1 percent bleach. The bleach will act as a germicide to kill or thwart bacteria.
- Vinegar helps prevent the sugar solution from becoming too sticky for the flowers to take it up readily. Commercial preservatives generally contain sugar and a germicide, but additional vinegar, sugar and bleach can be added to further extend the freshness of cut flowers.
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