How a Copper Penny Keeps Flowers Fresh

Adding a penny to a vase helps protect fresh flowers from bacteria, as copper is a natural fungicide. However, it’s important to use pennies minted before 1982, which contain 95% copper. Pennies minted in more recent years are made of 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper to retain the coins’ reddish-brown color.

Although it’s not scientifically proven, many people (florists included) believe old copper pennies prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae. A stem clogged with algae will have difficulty absorbing water, causing it to wilt and wither. With fewer bacteria swimming around in the vase, your lilies will have a better chance of surviving the week. 

Tulips, in particular, benefit from a copper coin as it encourages them to stand upright in their vessel. The exact science behind this phenomenon is also murky, but it’s theorized that the tulips absorb some of the copper, an essential nutrient, causing them to perk up.

Practice Proper Flower Care for a Long-Lasting Arrangement

One penny isn’t enough to keep cut flowers looking their best. Follow these care instructions for long-lasting blooms:

1. Sterilize your vase by cleaning it with warm water and dish soap. If the opening is too narrow to reach into, you can use one or two denture tablets to remove stubborn residue and kill bacteria.

2. Cut about 1 to 2 inches from the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this process every two to three days until it’s time to toss the arrangement. Remove any lower leaves that may come into contact with the water, as this can cause contamination.

3. Fill the vase two-thirds full with lukewarm water and add a copper penny for good measure. You may want to top up your vase with fresh water the following day as the flowers will be especially thirsty. After that, you should replace the water every two to three days.

4. Avoid placing flowers in direct sunlight or exposing them to extreme temperatures. Keep your arrangement away from heat sources, cooling systems, or even drafty doors and windows.

5. Remove any dead flowers from the arrangement to protect those that are still healthy. Mold spreads easily from stem to stem, so this should be done daily.

While dropping an old copper penny into a flower vase is more of an old wives’ tale than scientific fact, it’s a low-cost trick worth trying. Pair your farmers market blooms with a crushed aspirin tablet to lower the water’s pH level or a spoonful of vodka to slow ethylene production, and they may last even longer.

While there are countless vessels you could use for propagation (think: test tubes, tall shot glasses, upcycled jelly jars, etc.), one larger container may be more suitable if you’re attempting to grow many different cuttings at once. That’s where this space-saving plant hack comes into play.

How To Propagate Multiple Cuttings at Once

Grab a square or rectangular waterproof container. (A shallow food storage container or storage bin would work well. We used a 7.5-by-5.5-inch glass Pyrex dish with a depth of 2 inches.) Get a pack of rubber bands and stretch two of them over the opening of the container, positioning them side by side so they are touching. The tighter the rubber bands, the better; this will ensure the cuttings stay upright. Repeat this step, leaving about an inch of space between each pair of rubber bands, until you reach the end.

Secure a houseplant cutting between a single pair of rubber bands, stem side down. Depending on how taut your rubber bands are and the weight of your cuttings, you can place multiple stems in the same row or just stick to one cutting per rubber band set.

Fill the container with enough fresh water to submerge the bottom of the stem or node. Some houseplants naturally release hormones to help them root, so avoid using too much water as this could dilute the growth environment. We used a half-inch of water in our container.

Change the water once a week, or more frequently if it becomes cloudy or smelly. After a few weeks, once the cuttings’ roots have grown 1 to 2 inches, you can plant them in potting soil and water until moist. Alternatively, you can continue to grow your cuttings in water.

Propagating houseplants is a great way to grow your collection while saving money. (We won’t tell if you pocket a fallen leaf or two from your local home improvement store.) Using a larger container instead of multiple smaller ones can free up counter space and help you stick to your watering schedule. Plus, it reduces the risk of a rare plant cutting going missing and drying out.

What Causes Plant Balding?

According to plant shop owner and TikTok creator @TannerThePlanter, the oldest leaves on a vining plant are located closest to the soil. As these leaves naturally die, the plant continues to grow downward, sprouting new leaves. This results in long, bare vines toward the top of the plant, and denser foliage near the bottom.

This phenomenon is commonly seen in varieties of vining houseplants, such as pothos, philodendron, scindapsus, and monstera. Unfortunately, you can’t just apply a few drops of minoxidil to the soil and call it a day. But there’s an inexpensive way to make your houseplant look fuller and encourage future growth.

How To Properly Pin Your Houseplants

The only thing you’ll need for this hack is a handful of bobby pins or plant pins. (These U-shaped bobby pins are particularly useful, but whatever you have on hand will do.) Stretch out the bobby pins so they’re looser and don’t snap back together when you release one end. Identify the nodes along the barren vines — the little knobs where new leaves, stems, and aerial roots eventually grow from the main stem.

Wind one or more vines around the top of the pot, laying them in the soil. Use a few stretched-out bobby pins or plant pins to pin the nodes into the soil. You want to make sure the bobby pins aren’t squeezing the stems too tightly. This hack will instantly make your houseplant appear fuller, and the nodes will eventually root in and produce new leaves.