I thought using a bit of bleach in flower water was a crazy idea

Another florist at a market in Seattle told me to add a quarter teaspoon of plain bleach per gallon of vase water to fight bacteria. I was sure it would kill the flowers. After my last batch of lisianthus wilted in two days, I tried it as a last resort. They lasted a full week, stems stayed clear and the water didn't smell. Has anyone else tried this with sensitive flowers like ranunculus?

2 comments

2 Comments

noraj794d ago

Works with ranunculus too, but you have to be exact with the bleach. A quarter teaspoon is the max for a gallon, any more and you'll burn the stems. I also add a spoon of sugar to that same gallon of water, gives them a little food to go with the clean water. The bleach stops the slime, the sugar keeps them from fading fast. Just changed the water for a batch of anemones done this way and they're on day nine.

jordangibson4d ago

My ranunculus last week went a full ten days with that exact bleach and sugar mix. I was so sure the thin stems would just melt. The bleach keeps the water so clear you almost don't need to change it, just top it off. That sugar tip is key though, because the bleach alone can make some flowers look a little tired after a while. I use plain old granulated sugar from my kitchen. It sounds wild, but it just works.