Flowers kept in vases improve the visual appeal of any room, which is why a lot of people keep different types of fragrant and non-fragrant flowers in their homes. When you buy flowers for your home, you usually bring ones which are cut at a particular height so that you can keep them in a decorative vase or use them in flower arrangements. However, keeping flowers in plain water is no good to them, as they still have a stalk and leaves attached to supply the required nourishment. No cut flowers can live for more than 2 weeks, but there are some home remedies to preserve them a bit longer. Flowers which have been cut can be kept fresh and healthy for a longer time using preservatives. These preservatives are usually available with certain florists. You can also prepare these at home. This flower food is helpful for the cut flowers because it keeps the ends of the stalks moist, provides them with the required nutrients, and thereby extends their life. Directions for Use The first thing you need to remember when making the preservatives is that these flowers are detached from their natural source of water, which is the root system. When they are kept indoors, they are also deprived of sunlight which helps their leaves and stem to prepare their food. Therefore, there are very high chances of them wilting and dying in a matter of a few days, which is why a number of florists use commercially available preservatives. However, these can be harmful to the flowers, leaving them with yellow leaves and shedding petals. It makes them weak and devoid of nutrition due to which they dry off. Thus, you have to ensure that these flowers are immersed in water immediately after they are separated from their main stem. Recipes for Preservatives Recipe #1: Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 quart warm water

Recipe #2: Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon household chlorine bleach
• 1 quart warm water

Directions Take an empty flower vase and add the warm water to it. Warm water is used because it softens the stalks and helps the flower food reach the flowers faster and better. Then add the rest of the ingredients, especially sugar, and stir well so that they are dissolved. Then immerse the flowers into the vase with the stalks placed diagonally, as this helps in faster transport of food. With these easy steps, you can save your cut flowers from dying and keep them safe and healthy for a longer period of time.