I did some googling to find out if white butterfly ginger can be used as a cut flower. Some sites say it's great as a cut flower but then I found a co-operative ext. site that said the flowers die if they are cut.
So I've come to the *real* experts! Which is it?
Sherry
p,s, I'm wanting to know bcs I would like to contribute mine to a friends wedding showers, reception, etc.
Contradictory info - can you help?
Sherry, from my experience, the white ones don't last as long as the other colours. But I'm not a florist, and I don't use additives that could extend it's freshness.
~Jaye
In your experience, have they lasted 24 hrs? 48 would be better, but 24 might do.
Sherry, they wilt really, really fast... More like less than 4 hours, for me.
I cut them in the morning, and before noon comes around, they are already drooping.
Perhaps a florist can tell you what to do.
This message was edited May 31, 2008 10:58 PM
Wow! That is fast!
Well, it was just an idea. Just thinking of what is blooming in my yard in Sept. . I don't even know their theme or colors.
I have some annual seeds that say they'll bloom in abt 90 days. I'm going to plant those tomorrow.
Hi Firstyard - I have used them as cut flowers. Each individual bloom does not last that long, but new ones keep opening. So, it will last at least a couple of days - you just have to pick off the wilted blooms to keep it neat looking. And pick the stalk when there are still unopened buds on it. The yellow ginger - Hedychium gardnerianum, makes a better cut flower, but you can't beat the white ginger for it's wonderful scent. Another floral arrangement hint - the leaves of the white ginger normally is ratty looking. I cut off most of the leaves, leaving the flowering head exposed. Then, I cut leaves from a canna plant and use that for greenery. Canna flowers wilt really quickly, but the leaves are great.
soilsandup: thanks for the info. Would it be practical to offer some to a friend for her wedding or reception? Just how often would someone have to be picking off the wilted ones?
in the house, if the whole stalk is kept in a vase with water and 7-up, it does last a couple days. don't ask me why, but perhaps the sugar in the 7-up gives energy to the flower. i just know it works.
in the Philippines. florist use small vials similar to those vials used in sample perfume give away. at least 2 flowers is placed in a vial, filled with water. a group of vials, are then wrap with cotton or gauze, to prevent the person wearing from getting wet for a couple vials. several vials attached together with tape to form a bouquet, also wrapped with cotton or gauze to avoid wearer from getting wet. this is worn by most women, there was no need to wear perfume. use ur imagination to improvise and it will work for u.
once flowers are in vials, it sucks up the liquid in the vial, there is no worry to get wet. the cotton or gauze is kept in place to avoid "accidents" hth.
Very interesting! I had heard of using Sprite to help flowers last longer.
Thanks! I'll experiment a little when I get some blooms - a while away of course.
skw
They open at sunset and perfume the night; wilt by noon the next day. Cloudy days might prolong the flowers a few hours.