what+makes+fresh+cut+flowers+last+longer

Title: What makes fresh cut flowers last longer? By Noah Belsly and Samuel Lee

Purpose: We want to see what we can do to make flowers live longer and stay healthier. Readers Digest says that 8 things that will make flowers last longer are aspirin, bleach, coins, hairspray, soda, vinegar, ([|www.reader'sdigest.com]). The average bouquet of fresh cut flowers lasts 7 to 10 days([|www.gerdenguide.com]). The **Chrysanthemum is the longest lasting flower at 25 to 30 days([|www.hubpages/whichcutflowerslastlonger.com]). Although, we will be using the red rose, and the gerbera daisy.** We want to do our own experiment and see what we can find to make fresh cut flowers last longer. We are going to use 12 flowers,6 roses, 6 daisies, and test them in different substances. Over a period of time, we are going to check to see what make fresh cut flowers last longer. We will check on the flower everyday. There isn't really a reason for us researching this topic we are just curious to what can make your flowers last longer, so we can use then in the real world.

Hypothesis: If we add the the aspirin, bleach, coins, hairspray, soda, and vinegar, the the flowers should last longer than ordinary flowers.

Materials: 6 Daisies, 6 Roses, aspirin, bleach, a penny, hairspray, soda, vinegar, 12 vases, water, spoons, measuring cup.

Procedure: We will take 6 Gerbera Daisies, and 6 Red Roses. Then, we will add the aspirin, bleach, coins, hairspray, soda, and vinegar. Over a period of 2 weeks, or until the last flower dies, we will record and check the life of each. As well as the color, texture of the flower, and loss of petals. First, after getting 12 of the same vases, we will label according to the flower and substance that we are putting in them. Then we will add 2 cups of water to every vase. For the aspirin, we will use 2 crushed up pills. For the bleach, we will be clorox, and 1 teaspoon of that. For the coins, add just one penny. The type of hairspray will be Matrix, and we will add 10 sprays. For the soda pop, coca cola we be used and 1 fl ounce of it. For vinegar, 1 tablespoon will be added. After that, put the correct flower in each of the vases, following the labels. From there on, everyday we will keep check of the flowers. And keep data of the flowers.

Analysis: i discovered that that none of the materials we used to make the flowers last worked. They were fine for the first few days but after 3 days they all began to die at an alarming rate. The result was many dead flowers and many unanswered questions. Even the flower with the actual flower food with it, though lasted a little longer, still died in a short period of time. We did get some good data, the plants grew with water in the first three days, then died. So I reject my hypothesis of.....if you add the aspirin, bleach, pennies, hairspray, soda, and vinegar, then the plant will last longer.

Conclusion: My hypothesis was if we add the ingredients, then the flowers should last longer than ordinary flowers. I reject this hypothesis and would rather just use water and flower food. If we have added sunlight or just a regular flower in water to contest with the other flowers, our ISP would have been more fulfilling than it turned out to be.

Limitations: Sunlight played a huge part in our experiment. Most of our plants died quick, and we think that it was caused by leaving them in an enclosed place with no direct sunlight. If we at least would have had a heated lamp it might have made a huge difference. Some of the materials we used to try to make the plants last longer did the exact opposite. If we would have looked further into our research we might have not used some of the materials we did. Causing the flowers to last much longer than they did. Lastly, we didn't measure all of the substances. The water that we used in each glass was solely on guess. I didn't measure out all of the ingredients that we added to the flowers as well.

Data Table: Weight ( In Grams )
 * Daisies || Day 1 || Day 2 || Day 3 |||| Ending Weight ||
 * Vinegar || 16.18 || 17.34 || 16.99 || 15.7 || 16 ||
 * Soda || 30.2 || 28.96 || 26.19 || 26.11 || 26 ||
 * Coins || 7.96 || 9.94 || 8.12 || 7.9 || 8 ||
 * Aspirin || 22.93 || 31.89 || 27.44 || 26 || 26 ||
 * Flow.Food || 15.68 || 18.44 || 18 || 17 || 17 ||
 * Bleach || 25.55 || 28.29 || 27.8 || 26.22 || 16 ||


 * Roses || Day 1 || Day 2 || Day 3 |||| Ending Weight ||
 * Vinegar || 28.1 || 29.8 || 28.1 || 27.5 || 28 ||
 * Soda || 22.98 || 24.61 || 24.5 || 22.4 || 22 ||
 * Coins || 29.66 || 31.64 || 30.7 || 26.9 || 27 ||
 * Aspirin || 31.23 || 32.24 || 32.2 || 30.4 || 30 ||
 * Flow.Food || 30.95 || 31.14 || 28.6 || 26.1 || 26 ||
 * Bleach || 25.96 || 27.70 || 27.4 || 25.8 || 26 ||

Works cited: 1."Additives for Cut Flowers." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. []. 2. "8 ways to make flowers last longer" Readers Digest, [] 3. How Long Will Cut Flowers Last?" //GardenGuides//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. . 4. "How to Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer." //Woman's Day//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. 5. "15 Tips That Will Make Cut Flowers Last Longer." //DIY Home Improvement Information//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. 6. "How to Help Fresh Cut Flowers Keep Longer." //Gardening Channel RSS//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. 7."Health Tips, Food and Recipes, Funny Jokes and Cartoons, and Sweepstakes | Reader's Digest." //Reader's Digest//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. 8.Gardening on Garden Guides." //Garden Guides, Your Guide to Everything Gardening//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.