Remove Leaves Below Water Level to Keep Cut Flowers Happy
Something as simple as fresh cut flowers can improve your mood at home or at work. Extend their cheerful effect by removing any leaves that fall below the water level in the pot or vase.
Getting rid of leaves that would otherwise sit in water and rot eliminates bacteria or fungi that would grow on those wet, rotting leaves. This keeps the vascular system of the flowers clean, keeps the water in the vase cleaner and increases their shelf life. You can extend the shelf life of flowers by adding sugar, vodka, or aspirin to the water .
Cut flower care | Expansion of the University of Illinois