Quick tip recipe for making your own homemade flower food for fresh cut flowers

Keeping fresh-cut flowers vibrant and long-lasting can be a challenge, especially if you don't have access to commercial flower food. However, with a few simple ingredients found in your kitchen, you can create a homemade flower food that helps extend the beauty of your blooms. This recipe provides a temporary solution to nourish your flowers and inhibit bacterial growth in the vase water.

While it's important to note that this homemade flower food may not be as effective as commercially formulated options, it can still provide essential nutrients and support for your fresh-cut flowers. Here's how to make your own:

Homemade Fresh Cut Flower Food Recipe:

Ingredients for 1 litre of water:

• 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar (refined sugar will also work)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar (to lower pH)
• 1/2 teaspoon bleach (as an antimicrobial agent)
• 1 litre lukewarm water

Instructions:

1. Sanitize Everything: Ensure all containers and utensils are clean and contaminant-free.
2. Dissolve Sugar: Combine the lukewarm water and sugar in a 500ml cup or mixing bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Add Acid: Add the lemon juice or white vinegar to the mixture. These acids lower the pH of the water, inhibiting bacterial growth and promoting water uptake by the flowers.
4. Add Bleach: Add a splash of bleach. Bleach acts as an antimicrobial agent to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms in the vase water (be careful, as bleach can stain).
5. Combine Ingredients: Stir the mixture gently to ensure all ingredients are dissolved and well combined.
6. Transfer and Top Up: Move the mixture to a 1-litre container and top it up with water.
7. Use the Mixture: Pour the homemade flower food mixture into a clean vase and arrange your fresh-cut flowers in it.

Tips:

• Trim Stems: Trim the flower stems at a slight angle before placing them in the vase to help with water uptake.
• Remove Submerged Leaves: Remove leaves or foliage that will be submerged in the water, as they can encourage bacterial growth.
• Change Regularly: Change the flower food mixture and clean the vase every 2-3 days to prevent bacterial growth and keep the water fresh.

Remember, this DIY flower food recipe may vary with each batch and may not perform as well as professionally made flower foods. If you frequently enjoy cut flowers, consider using commercial flower food for optimal results. For more information about fresh flowers, read our other Koch blog The Best Way To Manage Fresh Cut Roses.