Some of the most beautiful flowers have an ugly reputation for making dirty water. This list of blooms is referred to and shares a name with the classic war film, “The Dirty Dozen.” There are ways to combat the nasty water they make.
1) Add a few drops of bleach to the water. When I harvest these blooms, I make sure to always add a CVBN tablet to the bucket water. Likewise, if you add a few drops of bleach to your vase you’re doing the same thing, preventing bacteria growth, and keeping the water clean looking.
2) Change the water every day. Dump the old and add new water to your vase every day. Yes, the water dirties up that fast.
3) Try to opt for an opaque vase. While I love the mason jar look, having a non, see-through vase will keep your visitors from seeing unsightly water. If that’s not an option, do your best with the above two tips.
Here is a list of the dirty dozen:
Snapdragons, Marigolds, Amaranth, Dahlias, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Celosia, Daffodils, Bachelor Buttons, Stock, Yarrow, and Hyacinth
