Have you ever heard of this trick to keep fresh cut flowers alive longer? Just plop a pre-1992 1 or 2 pence coin from The Royal Mint, or a pre-1982 penny from the U.S. Treasury, into a vase of water. The copper is a natural antimicrobial that kills bacteria build-up in the water, allowing flowers to thrive longer. Or, you could grab your own POTR Letterbox Vase, whose design was inspired by the centuries-old hack that was used as early as the 1600s.
Designer Andrew Flynn, co-founder of Glasgow-based POTR Pots, learned from his grandmother. “I was in the kitchen with her one day when she was preparing a fresh bunch of flowers, cutting the stems, when I noticed she’d flicked a spare 2 pence coin into one of the vases. When I asked why she was seemingly throwing away her money, she explained the copper in the coin keeps the flowers alive for longer.”
The self-cleansing POTR Letterbox Vase harnesses the antimicrobial power of the material in its copper stem, reducing excess flower and water waste. The origami-inspired outer part of the vase is made from recycled polypropylene and high-grade silicone rubber, and the copper stem nestles in among the flower stems.
The vase has a flatpack design, ensuring it can be mailed and cutting the carbon footprint of delivery by more than 100 times. There’s no chance of it arriving smashed, it’s machine washable, and will bounce if it’s dropped on the floor. Able to hold a full flower bouquet and one liter of water, the POTR Letterbox Vase’s soft silicone rim even cushions flower stems to help prevent damage.
Flynn said: “A huge amount of energy is required to produce and then transport flowers in order to be sold in the UK and around the world. The majority of flowers sold in the UK are imported, often by air freight, meaning the carbon footprint associated with a bouquet of flowers can be relatively high. If not cared for properly, flowers will die prematurely, exacerbating the problem of wastage. At POTR, we understand the importance flowers can play in people’s lives – especially on special occasions – and therefore we want to ensure premature waste of flowers is kept to a minimum.”
The POTR Letterbox Vase is available in three colors. It’s flat-packed and ready to hold a bouquet of flowers as soon as it’s taken out of its recycled card envelope.
To learn more about the POTR Letterbox Vase, visit potrpots.com.
Source: design-milk