Make Your Own Preservative for Cut-Flower Bouquets

Store-bought bouquets usually come with a packet of floral preservative that will prolong the life of the flowers when it’s mixed into the water. You can easily make your own flower food for your garden’s cut-flower bouquets so they stay fresh longer, too.

1 tablespoon sugar plus ¼ teaspoon bleach per quart of warm water.

2 tablespoons sugar plus 2 tablespoons of either lemon juice or vinegar per quart of warm water.

2 tablespoons white vinegar plus 2 tablespoons sugar plus ½ teaspoon household bleach per quart of warm water.

Related: The 10 Best Flower Bulbs for Cut Flowers

For all recipes, stir until the sugar dissolves, and let the water cool before adding the flowers. Dump the old solution and replace it with fresh solution every few days.

For more homemade gardening knowledge, check out this article: Tip of the Week: Natural Pest Management