Is it true that aspirin is used to preserve flowers?

Usage aspirin For save cut flowers It’s one of those grandma tricks we’ve all heard about from time to time. No one is going to argue that grandmothers have limitless wisdom. But it is also true that sometimes there are some myths in his medicines. So it’s worth wondering if this is one of those cases.

However, with science in hand, we can say that there is an explanation for the preservation of cut flowers thanks to aspirin. just put tablet in water to keep them fresh longer, and this is due to several reasons.

Before listing them, we must remember that “aspirin” is a commercial name Acetylsalicylic acid. This, in turn, is modification of salicylic acid. And the last one is substance produced naturally by many plants, in which it performs many functions, ranging from delaying aging to fighting some plant pathogens. All this already serves as a clue to what happens when we add it to cut flowers.

rust is prevented

aging it is an aging process that can be applied to both animals and plants. In the case of cut flowers, he is responsible for their wilting.

And just like when a person ages, oxidationThe same thing happens in plants. Oxidation, chemically speaking, occurs when a molecule loses electrons. This is often aimed at recovering that electron by stealing it from nearby molecules, thereby setting up a chain reaction harmful to the cells.

Molecules with unpaired electrons are called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are an indicator of aging and aging. Fortunately, plants have the tools to prevent this oxidation as much as possible. One of them is catalaseA antioxidant enzymewhose activity decreases as the days pass after the flowers are cut.

However, studies have been conducted on roses in which, when salicylic acid is added to a vase, catalase activity stayed longer. In addition, water absorption improves and cut flowers are preserved. fresh.

in other colors like gerbera, effects were also found for oxidation. In particular, it has been observed that the use of salicylic acid inhibits the activity of several enzymes involved in the oxidation process. So annoying browning cut flowers and also reduces ROS concentration.

Cut flowers without pathogens

Cut flowers can also wilt the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. We have already seen that the antimicrobial activity of plants is often mediated salicylic acid. But can it be useful if it is then added to cut flowers?

This is something that has been studied with various pathogens that have come to different conclusions. For example, with fungus Botrytis cinerea, one of the most common pathogens in cut flowers, salicylic acid has not proven to be very effective. Yes it nanosilverbut at the home level, we cannot access it as easily as aspirin.

Instead, salicylic acid is thought to may slightly acidify the environmentinhibiting the growth of other micro-organisms. However, this won’t be a particularly important effect, so it’s not the main reason aspirin is used to preserve cut flowers.

Better effervescent aspirin?

In some cases, it is recommended that aspirin added to cut flower water be effervescent. There is also an explanation for this, since bubbling improves saturation of water with oxygen. However, this is also not a permanent effect, so it won’t make much of a difference compared to using a different type of aspirin.

Playing with sugar in cut flower vases can be fun

He contribution of sugars in water for cut flowers can also be an important factor. However, finding the right amount can be difficult. But the fact is that, according to an article published by the University of Massachusetts, each flower has its own preferences.

For example, for gladioli, the maximum benefit is obtained if the water has a concentration of sugar from 4% to 6%. On the other hand, other flowers such as zinnias or bluebells are damaged if the sugar concentration above 1%.

All this can be controlled by looking for the needs of each flower. However, it would be ideal to combine it with biocide; because otherwise it would also encourage the growth of microorganisms. This publication recommends household bleachbut one would have to take very good care of concentration.

So for now it may be sufficient to add aspirin to the water. The effects are justified by science and, although it is not a panaceawe’ll make our cut flowers stand at least a little longer.