Nothing adds vibrancy, fragrance, and a dose of the outdoors to a home quite like fresh-cut flowers. A vase full of dahlias, tulips, or any of your favorite blooms is the ultimate centerpiece for a coffee table or dining table. There’s one downside, though — flowers never last quite as long as you’d like, especially…
But there’s good news: Adding one simple ingredient to your flowers’ water can help them stay fresher for longer. Whether you receive a bouquet on your doorstep or cut stems from your garden, open up your fridge or head to the beverage aisle of your local grocery store before arranging the flowers in a vase.
What’s the secret? A splash of a sugary soda such as Starry, 7UP, or Sprite. Soda’s high sugar content serves as food for the flowers, which helps sustain them. Lemon-lime soda also contains citric acid, which can lower the pH of the water. Flowers thrive in a slightly acidic environment, as it helps water flow up the stems easier. This keeps the blooms hydrated and reduces harmful microbes in the water.
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Put down your bottle of Coke, though. Clear sodas are a better option than colored ones because they won’t discolor the water, which is especially important if your vase is transparent. Neon-yellow or brown flower water — no, thank you. Don’t reach for the diet versions of Starry, 7UP, and Sprite either, since they lack the full sugar content.
To use this method, use a 50-50 soda-to-water ratio. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before placing them in the vase to help with water uptake.
If you don’t keep soda in your fridge, rummage through your bar cart instead. A splash of vodka is another secret to longer-lasting flowers. Vodka slows bacterial growth, keeping the water cleaner and extending the flowers’ lifespan. Save the heavy pours for your martinis, though; too much alcohol can dehydrate the flowers. Instead, add just a few drops of vodka along with a teaspoon of white granulated sugar to the water.
