Put Coins and Vodka in Flower Vases

Freshly cut flowers can be a wonderful addition to your home decor, but they can also be hard to justify if they don’t last more than a few days before they wither.

Florists offer several advanced flower care practices , such as cutting stems at a 45-degree angle, removing excess leaves before arranging, and changing the water daily. Other preservation methods rely on changing the pH , using ingredients such as vinegar and sugar to inhibit bacterial growth.

If you’re looking to try something new to keep your bouquets looking fresh, there are three things you can add to vases to extend the life of your cut flowers. Here’s what to add to your vegetable smoothie.

Ice cubes

If your buds are still closed when you bring them home, putting room temperature water in a vase will help them open . But if you want them to last longer, switch to cool water, which slows down decay and the buildup of bacteria and mold. You can do this by adding ice cubes to the vase, or by placing the composition in the refrigerator overnight.

old coins

The copper in the penny acts as a fungicide, naturally killing bacteria and fungi that build up and shorten the lifespan of your flowers. The catch: The penny must have been minted before 1982 , when production switched from 95% copper to 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating. Older pennies, made mostly of copper, are more efficient, so keep those old coins around when you find them.

Vodka

The final ingredient in your flower-preserving cocktail is vodka. Alcohol can help slow down wilting (so your flowers stand even longer) by preventing plants from emitting maturation gases. Obviously, you shouldn’t replace all the water with vodka – just a sip or a shot diluted with a vase full of cool water will do.