Fine roses suit any special moment. There is a color for every occasion. Sometimes they are protagonists of good wishes, farewells, gestures out of the blue, and thousands of love stories. Some other times they become stylish pieces of home decor, adding sparks to family moments. But how can you make their stunning beauty last longer?
In order to achieve maximum durability of your roses, there are some tips you need to take into account. Here are some easy steps to follow immediately after you receive your bouquet of roses, as well as general advices that will keep your roses looking fresh. Follow these instructions and enjoy long lasting colors and scents.
FIRST STEPS
1. UNPACK ROSES
Carefully cut the plastic seal that secures your roses to the bottom of the box. Remove your roses from the package and unwrap the protective plastic and paperboard.
2. CUT THE STEMS
Trim the stems of your roses evenly up to 7 inches taller than the height of your vase. Make a diagonal cut as this will help roses draw enough water. Use clippers or a sharp knife instead of scissors to avoid crushing the stem.
3. REMOVE WILTING PETALS
Some petals may arrive slightly damaged. This doesn’t mean your roses are dying; it’s rather a consequence of transportation. Remove wilting petals and leaves from your fresh roses as these could decrease their vase life.
4. ADD FLOWER FOOD
Pour fresh water into your vase and add flower food according to the instructions of the packet. Make sure there are no leaves below the waterline that eventually will rot. If so, roses will block water uptake to prevent infections.
TAKING CARE OF FINE ROSES
• Roses have a longer vase life under cool conditions. That being said, make sure to keep your flowers out of direct sunlight or nearby sources of high temperatures, which can quickly dry out your blooms.
• As a general rule, change the water of your vase every 2 days. In case it gets murky earlier, change the water immediately. Clean the vase with soapy water and rinse thoroughly to remove any fungus or bacteria that can deteriorate your roses.
• Once you have replaced the water, add the flower food provided in the right proportions. Overdose or underdose of flower food is detrimental to your roses; causing stem discoloration, burning of leaves and petals, and delayed opening. Never use aspirin or soda pop as substitutes of flower food.
• Every time you change the vase water, re-cut 1 inch off the stem end with clippers or a sharp knife to boost water uptake. Also, remember to remove wilting leaves and petals, as well as foliage under the water line. This is one of the utmost steps for increasing your roses’ durability.
• Foliage is essential in the hydration of roses. We don’t recommend removing all leaves along the stem, except for those under the water line that can get rotten over time. Similarly, avoid removing rose thorns. Wounds caused in the process attract unwanted micro-organisms that reduce roses’ vase life.
