Flower Food Recipes: How to Make Your own Cut Flower Food

Cut-flower bouquets bought from a flower delivery website or from your local florist will usually have powdered “flower food” to extend the life of your bouquet. But for wildflowers or flowers gathered from your garden, if you don’t have store-bought flower food on hand, you can make your own.

Warning: I have NOT tested these recipes, and it’s pretty hard to separate the folk-wisdom from the science. I would love to hear from others who have compared the various recipes. And if you have your own “secret recipe” that works, please add it to this blog as a Comment!

Flower Food Recipe (thanks to Kathryn M.)

1 teaspoon bleach
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 quart clean, room-temperature water

Recipe Using Copper Pennies & Aspirin (thanks to Mark M.)

a few copper pennies
a couple aspirin tablets
2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
1 quart clean, room-temperature water

Fresh Tips: Flower Care & Flower Ordering Tips by Brittany, Calyx Luxury Flowers