Why do cut flowers in a vase wilt so quickly?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Air bubbles and bacteria clog the stems' water tubes
Air bubbles and bacteria clog the stems' water tubes ✓ — A freshly cut stem sucks air into its water tubes, and bacteria multiplying in the vase water clog them further. Water can no longer reach the petals, so they wilt; recutting the stems and changing the water keeps flowers fresh longer.
Without roots, cut stems can't take up any water — Cut stems do drink: leaves and petals keep losing water to the air, and that loss pulls more water up the stem. A fresh bouquet can visibly lower the water in a vase within a day.
Chlorine in tap water poisons the petals — The small amount of chlorine in tap water doesn't poison flowers; if anything, it helps by slowing bacteria. Commercial flower food adds a similar germ-killer for exactly that reason.