That’s right, flowers eat too. They, like any living creature, need their food in order to have a longer and quality life.
Why do flowers need food?
Once cut, the flowers are restricted in their access to water, nutrients and growth hormones. A good flower food should contain pH regulators and a water and nutrient absorption stimulator. These ingredients ensure that cut flowers will develop naturally, retaining their shape, fragrance and color so you can enjoy your beautiful flowers for as long as possible.
How effective are home remedies?
There are many well-known home remedies for flower nutrition that we would like to highlight here. Most home remedies do not contain enough nutrients to support full bud and bloom development. What home remedies are commonly used and why are they ineffective?
Chlorine
Chlorine is an aggressive agent and is not gentle on plant matter, textiles and leather. The dosage must be very precise so as not to damage the flowers and leaves. Even if applied correctly, its effect is very short-lived. Chlorine used in the household stops working after half a day, and cut flowers need feeding all the time. In addition, care should be taken not to get it on skin or textiles.
Non-alcoholic drinks
The amount of nutrients in soft drinks is too small to support natural leaf and color development. The positive effect is due solely to the sugar content and the pH level. However, on the other hand, sugar is food for microorganisms that contaminate the water in a vase, which in turn leads to stem cell blockage and premature wilting.
Sugar
It is a good source of food for microorganisms and facilitates contamination of the water in the vase. This is the reason why the effect cannot be categorized as favorable for the normal development of plants.
Copper coins
Copper only affects water. The release of copper from the coins is very slow and therefore inefficient. Also, very few coins these days actually contain copper.
Of the home remedies listed above, only soft drinks can have some effect, albeit a weak one. But they stimulate the production of bacteria, and their price is higher, compared to commercially available flower food.
What is Chrysal Universal and why are there different varieties?
Chrysal Universal is our flower food suitable for almost all flowers and mixed bouquets. It will help you enjoy your flowers for up to 60% longer, providing all the necessary ingredients for the full development of buds and flowering. In addition to Chrysal Universal, we also offer a specialized food for flowers to support the development of the flower by compensating for the lacks due to cutting. We offer food for cut flowers for the following types of flowers: Rose, Tulip, Lilac, Chrysanthemum, Bouvardia, Lilium, Alstroemeria, Buttercup, as well as for mixed bouquets with Narcissus.
Chrysal for roses is suitable for any variety of roses and contains enough nutrients to support their full development and prevent the so-called. “twisted color”. Chrysal for Daffodils provides all the ingredients for the full development of daffodils, but also neutralizes their harmful secretion to protect the rest of the flowers in mixed bouquets. This way you can enjoy your bouquet for as long as possible.
On our page you can find a detailed list of specific foods for different flowers.
What is the difference between powdered and liquid flower food?
Flower food is available in a sachet (powder) and in a packet (liquid). Both contain the same amount of ingredients to keep your flowers beautiful for as long as possible. However, liquid flower food has some advantages over powder:
- The liquid flower food mixes immediately with the water, without the need for stirring.
- When using glass vases, the purity of the water solution is extremely important. With liquid food, this happens instantly.
What should we add to the water in a vase?
It is preferable to supplement the vases with the same type of flower food that was originally used. If you used a special flower food that has run out, you can use Chrysal Universal instead. If the vase was originally full, topping up will usually be necessary after about five to seven days.
What happens if the correct dosage is not followed?
Each package of flower food contains the right amount of ingredients that not only stimulate the development of buds and flowers, but also keep the stem and leaves healthy. It is extremely important that the flower food is dissolved in the correct amount of water. Pay attention to the information on the package before adding water to the vase. Be sure to add the correct amount of water designated for the respective package of flower food. We recommend using a measuring jug. If you use too little or too much flower food, the results will not be optimal. When using less than 80% of the recommended dose, a change in stem color, delayed color development, wilted and discolored leaves can be observed. Use of more than 150% of the recommended dose may result in stem discoloration and scorched leaves.
Does the water in the vase need to be changed?
Water contamination in a vase is caused by decaying stems and leaves. If the stems are damaged and begin to decay, bacteria can develop in their surroundings (stem, container/vase, air, leaves) and cause further decay of the stem. The water in the vase becomes cloudy and dirty. If there is only tap water in the vase, the stems begin to decompose and the water and vascular connections in the stems become saturated with microorganisms. Bacterial contamination develops rapidly within just a few days. If there is only water in the vase and it becomes cloudy and has a pungent smell, then changing the water is a good idea.
Using the right amount of flower food keeps the water in a vase clean and thus the flowers stay beautiful for a longer time. It also eliminates the need for water changes and all you have to do is top up with water and flower food.
