Valentine’s Day is all about beautiful blooms, but even the freshest bouquets can start to wilt quickly without proper care. While store-bought flowers usually come with a packet of food, it’s often small and short-lived. As the owner of GardeningExpress, I know there are plenty of everyday household items that can be used to make DIY flower food.
Certain household items you might have lying around can nourish your flowers and slow down bacterial growth, keeping blooms fresh and stems strong. Adding a small amount of sugar provides energy for your flowers, while acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar help prevent bacteria from taking over the vase water.
Clear spirits like vodka and gin can also slow the production of ethylene, which is the gas that causes flowers to wilt.
Even crushing an aspirin tablet in the vase can help lower the water’s pH and keep stems clearer for longer.
Adding a tablespoon of vinegar, mixed with a teaspoon of sugar, to a litre of water creates a perfect DIY flower food alternative. This is because vinegar helps prevent bacteria from building up in vase water, while sugar provides essential nutrients for cut flowers.
Lemon juice increases the acidity of the water, helping flowers absorb moisture more efficiently. When combined with sugar, it creates a simple flower food solution that supports healthy petals and slows down wilting.
A small amount of bleach can help kill bacteria in the water, which otherwise can block stems and make the flowers droop faster. Mix the bleach with some sugar and add it to the water. This combo really works wonders for keeping your bouquet looking vibrant, but just be careful not to overdo it, as too much bleach can actually hurt the delicate blooms.
Clear spirits, such as vodka, help slow the production of ethylene gas, which is responsible for ageing and wilting in flowers. Adding just a few drops to the vase can make a significant difference and help flowers stay upright and vibrant for longer.
Clear, fizzy lemonade contains both sugar and citric acid, which help feed flowers and limit bacterial growth. Diluting lemonade with water creates an effective DIY flower food that can help keep Valentine’s bouquets fresh.
Crushing an aspirin tablet and adding it to the vase can help lower the water’s pH, which makes it easier for flowers to take up moisture and fights bacteria.
Aspirin also contains salicylic acid, which boosts a plant’s natural immunity against fungi and stress.
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