To understand Flowercomb®'s value in flower arrangements where water cannot be frequently changed, we sought expert guidance from the University of Edinburgh

What we tested:

We compared Flowercomb® with two other commonly used methods of presenting flowers:

Flowers in vase with untreated water

Flowers in a vase with plastic coated wire netting and untreated water

Flowers in a vase with pure copper Flowercomb® and untreated water

Three varieties of flowers were selected to undergo testing:

  • Iris

    Selected for its delicate nature and tender stem, allowing any changes in the flower's health to be quickly detected.

  • Rose

    Selected as a staple in floral arrangements, frequently displayed, boasting a lasting vase life of about a week.

  • Chrysanthemum

    Selected for its hardy nature and longevity, this flower offered a perfect contrast to the delicate iris.

How we tested:

Each flower was cut to the same size and placed in a test tube with water, water with plastic-coated wire netting, or water with pure copper Flowercomb®.

The flowers were left for a total of 14 days. This duration was selected as it represents the upper limit of a standard vase life expectancy.

During this span, the flowers and the water in each unique test tube underwent analysis on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 14.

At every point of assessment - our priority was on two critical aspects: the presence of bacteria in the water and the condition of the plants.

BACTERIA GROWTH IN WATER

How much bacteria build up was there in the water of each test tube?

To measure the bacteria build up, spot plates were used with samples of water from each test tube.

Day 1
Day 7
Day 14
Water
Steel
Copper

Why do the copper samples show more of a spread than the others? This could be due to several factors:

1. Condensation or wet-spot blending:

If liquid spots don’t dry properly before being flipped, the colonies may blend together.

2. Reduced Bacterial Competition

Copper’s antimicrobial properties lower the diversity of bacterial species. With fewer species present, colonies encounter less competition for nutrients, allowing for larger, more spread out growth.

We performed a dilution series to determine the number of colony-forming units (CFU), providing an approximate measure of the total bacterial population in each sample.

Overall average of bacteria present in water of each test tube:

From this analysis we found that the growth of bacteria was consistently lower across all time points for the untreated water exposed to pure copper Flowercomb® compared to plastic coated steel wire mesh with untreated water, or untreated water.

PLANT HEALTH

How did the blooms fare?

Day 1
Day 7
Day 14
Water
Steel
Copper

To scientifically measure the health of each flower we looked for the presence of 2 elements in the flower and foliage:

  1. Intact chlorophyll components (Chlorophyll is typically the chemical that gives foliage its green appearance)
  2. Chlorophyll breakdown products – specifically pheophytin, which accumulates as plant tissues deteriorate.

The products are ideal markers for assessing plant health, as they remain measurable through their light absorption properties.

To measure these products, we employed a process known as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), which separates the plant material into its individual chemical components. 

This method allows us to differentiate between intact chlorophyll and its breakdown products, such as pheophytin, which absorb light at similar wavelengths but elute at different times during HPLC analysis.

 By isolating these components, we can measure the levels of healthy chlorophyll and degradation products like pheophytin, providing a detailed view of plant health and senescence (cellular aging).

Results

  • Iris

    At Day 14, chlorophyll breakdown product levels were similar across all conditions, likely due to the rapid deterioration of irises.

  • Iris

    However, results from Day 7 show lower degradation product levels in flowers exposed to the pure copper Flowercomb®, highlighting its potential to preserve plant health during earlier stages of storage

  • Rose

    Chlorophyll breakdown product levels of the roses at day 14 were similar to irises in day 7

  • Chrysanthemum

    The robust nature of chrysanthemums resulted in minimal chlorophyll degradation, enabling a focus on intact chlorophyll levels. Flowers stored with pure copper Flowercomb® showed higher relative levels of chlorophyll B compared to those stored in steel or water, indicating better preservation of plant health.

Overall, the analysis revealed that pure copper Flowercomb®'s antimicrobial properties contributed to reduced bacterial decomposition and extending plant life in the flowers that were tested: Iris, rose and chrysanthemum

Flowercomb® helped to preserve the structure and biochemical integrity of the plant tissues. This protective element of pure copper Flowercomb® contributed towards extending the freshness of the flowers in the experiment in comparison to those submerged in untreated water or in water with plastic coated mesh