Flowers Do Get Sick.

Bacteria and viruses attack cut flowers as they would any one of us. Mixed flowers in a vase pass viruses to each other.

Any leaf of a flower that is submerged or touches water will rut. This rutting produces bacteria that will kill your flowers. If the vase water is not changed frequently a slimy substance (Bacteria) surrounds the end of the stem and flowers will be deprived of water and food.

Do not keep fruits and vegetables close to your fresh flowers. Most fruits and vegetables produce gases that are very harmful to flowers, and makes them wilt and die faster. To prevent any of these things from happening, change the vase water as frequently as you can (once a day is great, once every three days is a max).

Wash the vase with some bleach. Bleach kills any bacteria that are clinging to the vase. Add acids to the water proportionately. A table spoon of lemon juice or vinegar, couple a drops of Listerine will keep the water fresh and bacteria free.