The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Beewyched on April 07, 2011, 09:22:08 pm

Title: Daffodils in vases
Post by: Beewyched on April 07, 2011, 09:22:08 pm

Not sure if this is the right place to post this - I don't usually come down this end of the forum - so apologies in advance if it's wrong.

My lovely, yellow daffodils are blowing over at a rate of notts (to match the wind) & are snapping off at the base.  In an attempt to enjoy them for a little longer, I am bringing them in & putting them in a vase of tap water.  But they are not lasting long  :(

Any ideas please?

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: little blue on April 07, 2011, 09:41:39 pm

seal the cut ends with hot water before placing in vase.
try rain water rather than tap water.
buy that powder that comes with cut flowers - I'm Wilco sells it... just can't recall the proper name!

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: Beewyched on April 07, 2011, 09:44:47 pm

Thanks,

I haven't been cutting the ends - that would be a start  :-[

Hot water, rain water & powder (if I can get any) - cheers  :)

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: Hermit on April 07, 2011, 10:27:49 pm

Now I have been told to cut the ends of all flowers cause that cuts the air ' bubble plug' away to leave a fresh living stem and to put Roses and bulbs in Lemonade for the gases.A copper two pence piece in the water works they say as well.This must make a chemical reaction to create the gases as well. Perhaps your daff stems have been creased or the daffs have lived their cycle anyway. Shop bought are just buds and have probably have been treated in some way so dont compare to them.

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: Beewyched on April 07, 2011, 10:29:34 pm

Thanks, will try the fizzy stuff - the daffs might get some too  ;)

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: deepinthewoods on April 08, 2011, 09:40:48 pm

 if you cut the stems whilst in the water, that sorts out the bubble block, works for taking cuttins too. and 2 teaspoons of sugar per pint of water and a drop of bleach to kill bacteria. ;)

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: shearling on April 15, 2011, 06:51:39 pm

I don't do the bleach, but I believe most of the packets you get with the cut flowers from shops are actually just a glucose mix (sugar does it ;D). Also it depends if they are just daffs or if you have put other bits in with them, and how warm they are kept when in the vase. It would be interesting to know if different types last longer.

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: ellied on April 17, 2011, 08:55:32 am

My windblown daffs came in and lasted a week indoors just in tap water, but I only put in a couple of inches in the jug, not full right up..

They've had it now but the bright yellow was really cheering to see - got loads of spring bulbs here in sequence from Feb on out of every window so I'm well happy with the views now :)

Title: Re: Daffodils in vases
Post by: Beewyched on April 17, 2011, 09:37:34 pm

We've only got a view out the front (south facing) of the house, no windows on either pine end, from the back of the house we can only see the yard.

We moved here just over a year ago & were so lucky to inherit what had once been a lovely garden of about quarter of an acre - it's been neglected for a number of years by a succession of tenants, but we're starting to get on top of it now & it's so exciting seeing plants & flowers emerging this year - I've planted some bulbs, shrubs & perenials, but there were quite a lots of lots of existing bulbs & shrubs which are now thriving & beginning to give a lovely show - I've had something in bloom now since 14th January  ;D