Does Baking Soda Keep Roses Fresh?

Flower gardening is a rewarding hobby that comes with a few challenges, such as keeping roses from wilting prematurely due to fungal infections.

Many gardeners have heard of using baking soda as an effective way to keep roses fresh, but do you know how it works and how to use it? This article will provide you with the information you need to understand how baking soda keeps roses fresh, what else should be added to it in order for it to be effective, and other natural fungicides you can use on roses for the same purpose.

What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a common kitchen ingredient that has many uses beyond baking cakes and cookies, it can also be used in flower gardening as a natural fungicide that helps keep roses fresh and healthy-looking for weeks after cutting them from the garden or buying them from the florist. It’s an inexpensive and easy-to-find item that is safe for people, pets, and plants alike.

How Does Baking Soda Keep Roses Fresh?

Baking soda works by inhibiting the growth of fungi on flowers, which helps keep them fresher longer because fungi are responsible for causing wilting and discoloration in flowers over time due to their decaying matter becoming attached to the flower petals.

In addition, baking soda also helps balance the pH levels of water when mixed with it, which can help prevent bacteria from growing in your rose water vase or container, this further helps your roses stay fresher longer by keeping bacteria at bay that could otherwise cause rotting or discoloration of rose petals over time if left unchecked.

What Else Should You Add To Baking Soda To Keep Roses Fresh?

Baking soda alone isn’t enough to keep roses fresh, it needs to be combined with other ingredients in order for it to be effective at inhibiting fungi growth and balancing pH levels in your vase water.

The most commonly used combination is adding three parts baking soda with one part household bleach or vodka, this mixture should then be added directly into your vase water prior to placing your roses inside so they can absorb the mixture while they’re being displayed in your home or office space (make sure not to use more than one part bleach/vodka in total).

Additionally, adding a small amount of sugar can help balance out any overly acidic properties in your vase water caused by the soda/bleach/vodka mixture, this will further ensure that bacteria won’t be able to form or grow inside your vase water while still keeping fungi at bay so your roses stay fresh longer!

Tips For Using Baking Soda On Roses

When using baking soda as a natural fungicide on roses, there are some important tips you should keep in mind: make sure not to use too much baking soda (three parts is enough) as it may cause irritation if ingested by humans or animals, don’t forget about adding sugar too – this helps balance out any overly acidic properties caused by the baking soda/bleach/vodka mixture, and lastly, mix all ingredients together prior to adding them into your vase water – this will ensure even distribution throughout the liquid so all parts of each rose petal are exposed equally!

The Benefits Of Using Baking Soda On Roses

Using baking soda on roses has many benefits, it is an affordable and readily available ingredient that can easily be found in most households (check your pantry!)

, plus it’s safe for people, pets, and plants alike so there’s no need for concern about toxicity levels when handling or inhaling fumes created by its usage around flowers! In addition, its fungicidal properties help inhibit fungi growth which can lead to wilting or discoloration of petals over time – something no gardener wants!

Lastly, its pH-balancing properties help ensure bacteria won’t form or grow inside your vase water while still inhibiting fungi growth so you never have worry about rotten petals ruining an entire bouquet before they even have time bloom!

The Drawbacks Of Using Baking Soda On Roses

While using baking soda on roses has many benefits there are some drawbacks too – mainly its strong smell which some people may find unpleasant when working with it around their flowers (it does dissipate quickly though).

Additionally, if too much is used then it may end up irritating the skin of people who come into contact with it either directly (by touching) or indirectly (by inhaling fumes). As such, always make sure not exceed three parts baking soda when making up any mixtures that contain it!

How To Make A Natural Fungicide With Baking Soda And Sugar

Making a natural fungicide with baking soda and sugar is easy: simply mix together three parts baking soda with one part either household bleach or vodka before adding a pinch of sugar into the mixture (this helps counteract any overly acidic properties caused by combining these two ingredients).

Then add directly into your vase water prior placing your roses inside so they can absorb the mixture while being displayed in your home or office space – just make sure not exceed one part bleach/vodka total!

Other Natural Fungicides You Can Use On Roses

If you don’t want use baking soda as a natural fungicide then there are other options available such as vinegar mixed with garlic cloves (simply add two cloves per gallon of vinegar), hydrogen peroxide mixed with lemon juice (add two tablespoons per gallon), or even citrus peels soaked overnight before being added into vase water (you should use one peel per gallon).

These solutions work similarly well at keeping fungi growth at bay while still providing essential pH balancing properties that help prevent bacterial growth inside vases!

Conclusion

Using baking soda on roses is an effective way to keep them fresher longer due its powerful fungicidal properties combined with its ability balance out pH levels inside vases containing rose stems – something essential preventing bacteria from forming which could otherwise lead rotting petals over time!

Additionally there are several other natural fungicides available such vinegar/garlic mixtures hydrogen peroxide/lemon juice mixtures citrus peels soaked overnight before being added into vases which offer similar benefits albeit slightly different results depending upon specific circumstances surrounding each individual type flower being treated accordingly.