The holidays often bring gifts of fresh cut evergreens and holiday flowers displayed in awe-inspiring arrangements. They can fill a room with the scent of fresh pine, or sweet rose and…wait, what’s that rotten smell? Suddenly it’s not the aroma of holiday cheer that is permeating your nostrils, but rather the scent of something that could be marketed as “Eau de Swamp.” Let’s dive into why your once lovely flower bouquet has decided to take the path of a stinky science experiment.
When you leave flowers in water for too long, you’re essentially throwing a party for bacteria. As flowers start to decompose, they release organic matter into the water. This creates a buffet for bacteria that multiplies quickly. The result? A stench that could clear a room faster than Uncle Bob’s karaoke performance at Christmas. The smell of plant rot is truly one you will never forget once you experience it. (This can also occur in potted plants that are in containers of soil without drainage holes.)
When foliage and flower parts dip underwater, they can break down even faster than the stems, releasing all sorts of compounds into your vase. Among them are sulfur compounds, which, if you’ve ever been near a rotten egg, you know aren’t exactly inviting. It’s like your flowers decided to embrace their inner skunk. No need to experiment with this friends, just believe me when I say the scent is gag worthy.
Ask me how I know? I got a little overzealous with watering my amaryllis bulb that I forced into bloom a few weeks ago. See video here where I warn you to keep the level of the water below the bulb and know that I promptly ignored my own advice and got neglectful. (It happens to the best of us.)
Fear not, for you can prevent this odorous deed! Here are some tips to keep your floral friends fresh and your nose happy:
- Trim the Stems: Cut about an inch off the stems at a 45-degree angle before placing them in water. This helps them absorb water better and stay fresh longer. Continue every couple of days to trim a little more off the stem to remove any softening plant material that will develop into rot.
- Change the Water Regularly: Every two days, give your flowers a spa treatment by changing their water. This keeps bacteria at bay. Fresh water brings fresh oxygen to your plants.
- Avoid Submerging Leaves: Make sure no foliage is underwater. Remove lower leaves on the stems that will be placed in the vase and keep the water level below all foliage. If petals and foliage begin to fall into the vase, make sure to dump out water and replace with new.
So follow these tips, to keep your flowers smelling as sweet as they look and you’ll be able to keep your company around. Of course, if you need a quick escape plan from holiday visitors, you now know a sure way to get them running. Wink Wink!
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
