Flowers for Valentine's Day: How to make them last longer

Roses at Salinas Walmart

Flowers for Valentine's Day: How to make them last longer

Although we should have pruned all of the rose bushes in our garden by now, I bet there might be one or two plants that haven’t been downsized yet. Perhaps you can make the best of it, if they still have blooms, and put a garden rose in a vase on Feb.14. If you do find unopened buds, you can pull off the outer petals and dunk the stem in tepid water. Place the rose in a warm, sunny spot indoors. It might not win “Queen of Show” but it will open.

How to keep cut flowers blooming longer

If you are the lucky recipient of a bouquet of commercially grown, cut roses (or purchased some for yourself) always re-cut the bottom of each stem as soon as you bring them into the house. Do this under warm, running water – if you can manage it - and place them in a vase into which you have dissolved a couple of aspirin tablets.

This is true science. Aspirin is derived from a chemical compound found in willow trees. It has the ability to counteract – at least for a time – the onslaught of rot and encourage the stem to uptake water. If the stem still has prickles on it, put your leather gloves on and push them all off. The rose will take in water from the area where the thorns once grew.

Continue to further refresh your stem cutting every two or three days and replace the water.

If you get a bunch of tulips, take the time to prick the peduncle of each flower with a pin. That’s the green part between the petals and stem. This allows the pressure to escape and the tulip won’t spend as much energy opening and closing as it responds to daylight. This procedure should allow them to last a few days longer.

A mixed bouquet will also benefit from the treatment above. The different cut flowers will have different life spans. As they drop petals, remove them from the arrangement.

Carry the vase and flowers out to a cool garage for the night and return it to the breakfast table. That should also extend the bloom.

Celebrate with flowers

Chocolate and wine are nice but ... remember the New Year's resolutions to lose a few pounds?

Buying flowers, especially for no occasion whatsoever, is a great way to lift your spirit and the spirits of those around you. Bring vibrant colors into your home when the skies are gray and the air is chilly. It also keep our floriculture businesses alive.

"In The Garden with Joe Truskot"

The Monterey Bay Area's new garden show airs on KSQD 90.7 Santa Cruz, Saturdays at 9 a.m. PST. Give it a listen. Featured guests: Feb. 16 Joe Ghio, Feb. 23 Stephen McCabe. Streaming at www.ksqd.org.