Is Bleach Good for Flowers? Yes, Here's Why.
Photo by Johnny Brown
A question I used to wonder about before I got involved in the floral industry is whether or not something that seems harmful to flowers like bleach can actually be good for them?
Bleach is good for your cut flowers, but the key is to use a very small amount in your water. The reason why bleach is added to the water is to keep harmful bacteria from growing and eventually killing the flowers. Depending on the vase size it is recommended to add up to a quarter teaspoon of bleach per liter of water to prevent bacteria growth. Too much bleach in the water will be harmful.
If you want to learn more about how to keep your flowers alive, keep reading.
Want flowers that last a little longer?
Check out our dried flower arrangements.
Why Bleach is Good for Flowers.
Who would have thought that placing your flowers into water that contains bleach would be a good thing? Well, that is just the case. One-quarter teaspoon of bleach to one quart/liter of water is the correct ratio to protect your flowers. Some also recommend just a few drops for smaller bud vases.
As you can see, there is not much bleach at all in the water. But just enough. The question is, “Just enough for what?”. Why should we subject these beautiful flowers to bleach at all?
The answer is bacteria.
Bacteria will start to grow in the water, turning it cloudy, smelly, and shortening the lifespan of the cut flowers you just obtained.
What bleach actually does to bacteria is it causes them to unfold (Gross.) and stick to each other (Gross.). After they stick to each other they stop being able to function, and then they die (Yay!).
Simply put, the bleach kills the bacteria in the water and keeps them from growing. This means that your water will stay clear, longer.
The best practice to keep your flowers fresh as long as possible is to change your water every few days. Follow this method: (1) empty the vase, (2) fill it with water, (3) add your bleach, (4) add some sugar, (5) cut up to an inch off the stems, (6) place the flowers back into the water.
Photo by Earl Wilcox
Too Much Bleach Will Kill Your Flowers.
They say too much of a good thing can be bad. This definitely applies to the bleach when you add it to your flower water. The key is to not add too much. In fact, I think it would be better to err on the side of caution instead of overdoing it and killing your flowers.
Adding too much bleach will give quick and devastating results. The flowers will start to die very quickly.
Make Sure You Keep Foliage Out of the Water.
One great tip to keep your flowers alive longer is to make sure that there is no foliage (a.k.a. leaves or branches) in the water of your vase. They will begin to die and contaminate the water. This will result in decreasing the lifespan of your cut flowers and will cause the water to need to be changed more frequently.
Photo by Mathilde Langevin
Add Some Sugar to the Water.
Since the flowers have been detached from their roots, they are going to need some food in addition to water to live. Adding sugar to your water is going to solve that problem and keep your flowers alive longer.
Flowers create sugar by a process known as photosynthesis (Hello science class!), so it is a key part of their diet.
Bacteria also loves to feed on sugar. Adding the sugar to the water will encourage it to grow. If you don’t kill the bacteria and inhibit them from growing with bleach, they will decrease your cut flowers’ life span.
Flower Food is Another Great Option.
With all this being said, there is some great flower food on the market. We use Floralife Crystal Clear.
We have been using Floralife products in the studio for years and have never had any problems. It works great.
Scoop some into your vase, then add the water. This is will mix it up. It is as simple as that.
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