Unpopular opinion: I thought those flower food packets were just colored sugar

I mean, I never bothered with them for years, just gave folks the stems and told them to change the water. Then a client brought back a bouquet after a week, and the snapdragons were still perky. She said she used the packet. I tried it myself with a test bunch of alstroemeria, and the ones with the food lasted almost 14 days, the plain water ones drooped in 8. Has anyone else had a specific flower that really proved the value of the stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_pat1mo ago

Had the same doubt until a cheap bunch of carnations from the grocery store. Put them in a clean vase with the packet, and they looked fresh for over ten days. The control group in a different vase with tap water started to fade and get slimy by day five. It's not magic, but the stuff clearly stops bacteria and gives them a little sugar boost. My test wasn't fancy, but it was enough to change my routine.

simonw411mo ago

Ten days is pretty good but honestly I just change the water every couple days and skip the packet. Works fine for me.

tessa17710d ago

Seriously, it's about the vase shape too. A narrow neck keeps stems upright and slows bacteria spread way more than a wide bowl. That packet helps, but bad geometry kills flowers fast.