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BRING YOUR GARDEN INDOORS

If you can’t get into the garden because it’s pouring with rain, bring it inside with you and put it in a vase. Make cut flowers last longer by following these simple tips.

• When picking flowers, use secateurs because scissors tend to squish stems.

• Cut flowers on an angle to expose more of the central part of the stem, known as the xylem tissue, which is responsible for uptake of water. Add an additional 5cm vertical cut to the base of woody stems to aid with water uptake.

• Remove any leaves below the water line to prevent decay and bacteria growth.

• Spiked blooms, such as snapdragons or delphiniums do best if picked when a few flowers are open.

• Dip the cut ends of flowers with milky sap, such as poppies and hollyhocks, in boiling water for 30 seconds.

• Keep flowers alive for longer by using a flower preservative, or make your own.

To 1 litre of water, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon bleach.

• Re-trim the plant stems and refresh the water every day.

Food & Drink

en-nz

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/283274576015298

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