Does sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?

Sugar mixed with a few other ingredients helps preserve cut flowers. It is a natural flower preservative because flowers produce sugar during the process of photosynthesis.

To make the sugar preservative, pour 1 quart of water into a vase. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of bleach. Stir the mixture well, and arrange the flowers in the vase. Be sure to cut the flower stems at an angle and remove all leaves that are submerged in the water before arranging the flowers in the vase. The water needs to be replaced every two to three days, which requires mixing a new sugar mixture.