Many people may have heard and wondered why fresh flowers and fruits should not be placed next to each other. Recently, scientists have found an explanation.
One of the things that makes arranging fresh flowers special is that they cannot last forever. This impermanence makes us appreciate them more. Flowers only bloom vibrantly for a limited time. Essentially, when you cut fresh flowers, you sever their roots, leaving only the preserved remains in a vase until they can no longer be used and begin to smell rotten.
Flowers only bloom vibrantly for a limited time.
There are many tips to help extend the freshness of flowers, one of which that many people share is: Do not place the vase near certain fresh fruits. This tip comes from an article by Emma Loewe on mindbodygreen, and here are some key points you should know.
In her article, Loewe spoke with Dr. Caren Chang, a professor at the University of Maryland (USA) who has researched ethylene, a type of plant hormone. According to Dr. Chang, the ethylene levels in fruits increase as they ripen or age.
While ethylene is beneficial, it is not good for flowers. The acceleration of fruit ripening causes leaves and flowers to wilt quickly, which means your floral arrangement won’t last long. Therefore, if you want to maximize the lifespan of your flower arrangement, it’s best to avoid placing them near a fruit basket or a bunch of bananas.
Among all types of fruits, Chang mentions that tomatoes, apples, bananas, and pears emit more ethylene than others as they disperse ethylene gas into the air. You can still place fresh flowers anywhere in the kitchen, but they should be positioned wisely and away from fruit storage areas.
