How To Change The Colouring Of Cut Flowers

Winter need not be a period of misery and frustration for the gardener. Take up the hobby of drying, preserving and waxing flowers and even make some money from it. Yesterday we looked at how to dry and wax flowers and today, we look at some more options.

To change white carnation-type petals to green, stand the long-stemmed flowers in water containing a green aniline dye. Other suitable aniline dyes may be used, to achieve coloured stripes on white flowers.

Place flowers over a basin of water, which contains a very small amount of ammonia, in a bell glass. The petals will usually change. For example, many violet-coloured petals will change to green, red colours will become green, white will turn yellow and dark carmine will turn black. Violet-coloured asters, can be moistened with a very mild solution of nitric acid. The ray florets will turn red and will also acquire a pleasant scent.

How To Preserve Cut Flowers

You can preserve the fresh beauty of flowers, for years, in their natural vivid colours, without a great deal of work, or expense. Simply mix a combination, of four parts of borax, to one part of silica gel. You can make your mixture by hand. The borax should be run through a sieve, before mixing with the gel, to remove any lumps.

You should treat all of the flowers to be preserved, immediately after picking. Cut off the stems, loose to the base of the flower. In the bottom of a plastic bag, or an air-tight jar, put down a layer of the preserving powder and lay a blossom face down, on the powder. Pour some additional powder over the flower, until it is well covered. Then lay another flower face down and cover it, repeating the procedure, until the bag or jar is full.

Put on your lid, or if using a bag, press down on it lightly, to squeeze out all the air. Tie the bag tightly, with string, as close to the contents as possible, to prevent air from coming in. Now put your flowers and powder mixture away, in a dry place, for about four weeks, without peeking at it. Never store it out of doors.

At the end of the four weeks, open the container very gently and remove the blossoms, one at a time, blowing the powder off them. You may make a stem, by running a piece of florist’s wire through the lower side of each blossom. Now you have preserved flowers, in their garden freshness.

A good method of prolonging the life of cut flowers, is to put a small amount of ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, sodium carbonate, or campher, in the water, into which the flower stems are inserted. One, or more of these chemicals, will keep the flowers fresh, by working to oppose germ growth and to stimulate the cells. This method is, however, not permanent, like the borax and gel solution. Preserving flowers can help you save your memories, of a wedding corsage, or a gift bouquet for ever.

How To Sell Pine Cones

Ordinary pine cones, of any size, can be made to look almost exactly like tiny owls, simply by adding “eyes,” which can be purchased at any hobby, or craft shop. The cute, stylistic, little creatures, can then be mounted, on stained, or burned plywood plaques, a hanging device, or hook added, and they sell like hotcakes.

Mount the little birds on a small limb, or twig, glue the whole scene, onto a plaque background, of any kind, display them and people will want them. Sell them singly, or in groups. Start with one large “mama” owl, then add two, or three “baby” owls, for an attractive grouping. They are very cute.

Find an old limb, with a knot hole, or an old board. Mount a small bird just inside the hole, or on a twig, just outside of the hole. You have a scene, that people will love. The idea of using natural products, to make nature scenes, appeals to many people. One person, I know, sells more of these, than he and all of his grandkids can turn out.

Combine cones, pods, twigs, old wood, boards, dried flowers and leaves. Be creative and use your imagination. You can make money from ordinary pine cones, so give it a try.

So, you see there are many ways of keeping busy, during the cold winter months and your creations can be used for gifts, or for a little extra money.

Another fascinating and rewarding hobby is Bonsai. An excellent read is the ebook Bonsai Indoor Plant Guidebook. Apart from orchids, another very popular form of indoor gardening is Bonsai. To learn more about growing Bonsais indoors, see the book titled Bonsai Indoor Plant Guide.This is a comprehensive guide to growing Bonsai Plants Indoors. It is full of useful tips. Find out more here. http://dersalsites.com/bonsip/

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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