Fresh Cut Rose Care...your roses can survive in a vase ...honest

About Caring For Your Fresh Cut Roses

Is fresh cut rose care really that difficult?

Not really. But there are steps that need to be followed. Fresh cut roses can absolutely last up to two weeks if cared for properly.

As a former floral shop owner and Certified Florist (25 years), I have seen it all.

• flowers left in the delivery package too long, sometimes for hours
• rose stems not cut again prior to putting in vase
• adding too hot of water
• placing the vase of roses in the blazing sun
• forgetting to add water to the vase
• left in a cold car (winter)
• left in a hot car (summer)

If you plan on giving fresh cut roses and cannot deliver directly after purchase, pay the extra cost and have them delivered. Next, buy your roses from an expert...not from a bucket at the end or in front of a check-out counter.

REMEMBER...you get what you pay for.

Fresh Cut Rose Care

• immediately when arriving at your destination, fill a vase of warm water
• hopefully you will have been given a floral packet (food). Empty 1/2 of the package into the water and stir to dissolve
• if you don't have the food packet, dissolve 1/2 aspirin and 1/2 teaspoon sugar into the vase of warm water
• strip the foliage from the lower portion of the rose stems. You do not want any foliage under water line
• some florists will remove the thorns, others don't, so be careful...they can really hurt
• with the rose stems either under warm water or while running warm water from the tap, cut each stem on an angle (please use a sharp knife or clean garden shears), about 1/2 inch. Some omit this step. I do not.
• don't cut the rose stems too much as you will have to repeat this procedure again in 3 days
• DO NOT place the vase of roses in direct sunlight, near a heat register or any kind of draft
• check the water level every day
• add the remaining half of the food packet when you repeat the stem cutting process on day three or four

ENJOY!

Some Fresh Rose Problems and a Neat Trick

Sometimes an air block can occur in the stem. You will know this has happened if the rose head bends its head downwards. To remedy this, fill a tub with very warm water and submerge the rose. In order for the rose to stay submerged, you will need to weigh it down with a towel. Re-cut the stems and leave the rose in the water for a least 2 hours. Prepare a clean vase, dry off the rose and add to the vase.

When purchasing your roses some floral shops will sneak in a bullet or two. What's a bullet? Simply put...a rose that will not open. Bullets are pretty easy to spot. Just check for a rose head that is closed very, very tight..it actually looks like a bullet. Also, the rose head/bud is so tightly closed that you could use it as a hammer.

Sometimes presentation is everthing. Right? When I first became a florist I shuttered when I received my wedding flowers from the wholesalers and some of the roses were still partially closed. Here's a great trick if you are arranging fresh roses in a vase and you need the petals open:

• gently place your hand around the rose head and blow softly into the rose
• repeat this several times or until you have achieved the openess desired
• another sure fire way and this only works if you have time, place fresh cut roses in very warm water and let sit for several hours or over-night

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