Enjoying Roses in Vases

There were a few basic tips I had used over the years for cutting roses for the house, but too often I was disappointed at how quickly they wilted. A few extra steps I gleaned from various sources were really helpful in extending the blooms for longer enjoyment.

Many recommend cutting the roses early in the morning, when the blooms and leaves have their highest moisture content.

If you have several blooms to choose from, your best choices are the ones that are just starting to open, just past the bud stage but no more than 1/2 open. Cut them with clean, sterilized, sharp scissors or clippers, making a cut at a 45-degree angle. This angle prevents them from sitting flat in the vase, which could prevent them from taking up the water.

Get your roses into water as soon as you can. A good tip is to carry a bucket of warm water with you as you make your cuttings. If you don't bring water with you, then re-cut them under water when you get back in the house. This helps prevent air bubbles from emerging inside the stems.

Make sure your container is also clean and sterilized, to prevent bacteria from shortening the life of your blooms. I like to run my vases through the dishwasher after each use.

Fill your vase with warm water and a floral preservative, which is helpful in extending the life of your roses. Alternatives to using a commercial preservative are a splash of lemon/lime soda or a splash of fresh lemon and a tsp. or more of sugar. Remove all leaves that would be below water level. I also like to either remove the thorns or at least clip off the sharp points.

Change the water often, daily if possible, to help prevent bacteria from developing. If they are wilting, it means that water is not able to reach the blooms through the stem. Re-cut the stem bottoms (again under water), submerge them in very warm water, and let them sit for about an hour before placing them back in the vase.

Implementing these tips has helped me to enjoy my rose blooms and bouquets for a longer time. I hope you find them useful too.

• Roses (Rosa)
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