Are flowers muktzeh on Shabbat?

Hi,

Are flowers muktzeh on Shabbat, if they were cut beforehand?

Flowers which were brought home before Shabbat to be admired for their beauty are not muktzeh, and may be handled on Shabbat; for example, one may remove them from their vases to admire and smell them. However, if the flowers have visible roots then one may not remove them from water; this would be an act of uprooting them.

One may not set up a vase with water on Shabbat; this is considered a strenuous activity. Even if a vase already contains water, one may not introduce flowers; water invigorates them, causing blossoms to open, and so this would be an act of planting. For the same reason, one may not return flowers to water from which they have been removed.

One may not assemble a bouquet of flowers in a receptacle, even without tying them together.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 336:11; Mishneh Berurah 308:100, 336:53; b'Tzel haChachmah 4:87; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 336:30; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 26:26; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:73)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Watering plants on Shabbat, Part II

Hi,

The prohibition against watering plants on Shabbat extends to potted plants.

However: One may water vegetables and edible plants which are separate from the ground, in order to keep them from drying out and becoming inedible. This is because those vegetables/plants could be used for the Shabbat meal.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 321:11; Mishneh Berurah 321:37)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Watering plants on Shabbat, Part I

Hi,

On Shabbat one may not water plants which are connected to the ground; this is a sub-category of the general prohibition against planting on Shabbat.

(Mishneh Berurah 321:37)

Have a great day,
Mordechai