Chapter 26
Plants and Trees
25. Vases are not muktzeh and may be moved, even if they contain flowers or twigs and water.
26.a. Flowers or twigs may not be put into a vase of water on Shabbath or Yom Tov,
1) even though they are not muhtzeh (as where twigs were put aside before Shabbath or Yom Tov for decorating the house) and
2) even if the water has been in the vase since before Shabbath or Yom Tov began.
26.b. 1) On Shabbath, one may not add to the water which has been in a vase full of flowers since before Shabbath,
2) On Yom Tov, water may be added (unless of course it is also Shabbath).
26.c. 1) On both Shabbath or Yom Tov, one is permitted to take flowers or twigs out of water, as long as they have not put out roots into the water.
2) The twigs may afterwards be replaced (in the same water), but not the flowers.
