What is that little sachet of white powder that comes with my cut flowers? Do I need to use it and and can I make my own?

Where ever you purchase your flowers from either your local florist, supermarket or corner store, you will usually also receive a little sachet of white powder. This is a commercially made flower food.

Do you need to use Flower Food, well typically YES.

Flower food is a mix of sugars, acidifiers and germicides and it has been specifically created to supply your cut flower with the energy it requires to fully open and remain nice for as long as possible.

Once a flower is cut from the plant, it will start to die, as it has been removed from its source of food that is supplied along the xylem vessels from the roots through the stem to the flower head. The idea with flower food is that it will help nourish the flower bud to help it open and bloom, as it would if it was on the plant.

I heard that I should add Sugar to my vase water, that will do the same thing….

Well not really. Adding sugar won’t really achieve much. This is because the flower can’t absorb the sugar in it’s natural state, so you need to add an acidifier. Also sugar will breed bacteria super fast, so you also need to add a germicide.