Tried a 'pro' tip about using sugar in flower food and it was a total mess

Honestly, I saw this tip on a gardening forum about adding a teaspoon of plain white sugar to the water for cut flowers to make them last longer. The person swore it worked better than the commercial packets. So I tried it on a batch of roses for a wedding order last month. Ngl, it was a disaster. The water got cloudy and smelly in like two days, and the stems slimed up way faster than normal. I lost about half the bunch before I could even use them. I think the sugar just fed the bacteria in the water. I'm sticking with the proper stuff from now on. Has anyone else had a bad time with a home remedy that sounded good?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_rowan1mo ago

Remember reading that sugar can actually make some flowers open too fast and fall apart. It's not just about bacteria, it forces them to burn through their own energy way quicker. So you might get a big bloom for a day before the whole thing collapses. That could explain the slimy stems and short life even without the cloudy water.

ninas701mo ago

Makes total sense about the sugar rush. Had that happen with a bouquet last year. Switched to just a tiny bit of bleach in the water, like a quarter teaspoon per vase. Keeps the gunk away without overfeeding them. Flowers lasted almost two weeks. The bleach sounds harsh but it just stops the bacteria without hurting the stems.