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Effects on vase life: When used properly, fresh-flower
food solution usually increases flower life by 25 to
75 percent or more. Granted, some flowers seem to benefit
little, but almost no flower is harmed. It would be
impractical to mention a few flower species that do
not respond favorably to fresh-flower food solution.
Effects of water quality: Water quality affects all
fresh-flower food solutions. No single test will determine
which fresh-flower food solution brand is best for any
given water quality. Instead, try a series of flower
life tests, using two or three fresh-flower food solution
brands with two water qualities: tap and deionized water.
Purchase the latter by the gallon from food stores.
Spring or natural water is not deionized and is often
worse than tap water.
Whenever possible, use flowers from the same bunch
for each test. Use at least four flowers per treatment.
Treatments can consist of: plain tap water, plain deionized
water, tap water plus brand A, deionized water plus
brand A, tap water plus brand B and deionized water
plus brand B. Additional brands can be added the same
way.
Run this test for many weeks, using numerous flower
types, before deciding. If the deionized water continually
out performs the tap water, get product information
from a local water conditioning company that sells or
leases deionization or reverse osmosis (RO) purification
equipment.
Powders versus liquids: Flowers don't know whether
fresh-flower food solutions are liquid or powder. Therefore,
let the fresh-flower test results, ease of operation,
and cost considerations be the deciding factors.
Dispensing systems: To ensure the proper concentration,
use automatic dispensing systems such as those used
for fertilizer injector/proportioning. "Passive systems"
indicate that the fresh-flower food solution is dispensed
without the user having to activate the system by, for
example, pushing a button. "Active systems" enable the
user to use one source for both fresh flower food and
water by pushing a button or switch.
Information reprinted
from SAF Flower and Plant Care Manual, (Society of American
Florists: Alexandria, VA, 1994), pp. 156-157.
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