How to extend the life of roses?

Rose bouquets are the most common choice in florists because they can be given to anyone regardless of the occasion. They are extremely elegant and delicate. Unfortunately, they wilt just as quickly. Here are some ways to prolong the life of roses.

Put the vase in the right place

A bouquet of roses makes a great gift. If you want it to last, you should place it in the right place. Roses do not like sunny and hot places and frequent temperature changes. If the flowers were brought in winter, it is worth to leave them for at least 2 hours in a colder place. On the other hand, after placing them in a vase, be careful not to place them next to a frequently opened window or front door. Also, don’t place it near ripening fruit or other aging flowers. As they undergo changes, they give off ethylene, which negatively affects flower quality

Trim the flower tips

If you want your roses to stay in the vase longer, it is a good idea to trim the tips before putting them in water. The most important thing to remember is how to cut the ends. Use a very sharp knife to cut the tips in a diagonal motion. Do not use scissors or crush the flower tips. These types of methods only destroy the conductive tissue, not allowing the flowers to absorb water. Remember to trim the stem ends every day. Otherwise a rotten stub will form on them, which also makes it difficult for the flowers to take up water. If any other parts of the plant are under water, remove them as well. Otherwise you will end up polluting the water with rot bacteria

Parboil the flower stems

Another treatment that will prolong the life of your bouquet is to steam the stems. Place cut roses in boiling water for 10 seconds. Air bubbles should escape from the tips. This is air that has gotten into the flowers during pruning. Removing the air will extend the life of the flowers in the vase. After removing the flowers from the boiling water, place them in lukewarm water

Always put the bouquet in cold water

When you get a rose bouquet, always put it in cold water after trimming the tips. Make sure that the vessel is thoroughly washed beforehand and is free of lime scale. Rotting bacteria like to settle on the particles, which are responsible for stem rot. It is important to keep the bouquet in a cool room. Overnight, the roses can be removed from the vase and transferred to a tub of cool water

Change the water every day

If you want your bouquet to decorate your home for a long time, be sure to change the water frequently. Flowers don’t like dirt, on the other hand, flowers are very fond of rotting bacteria. Every time you change the water, wash the vessel thoroughly. You can add some sodium hypochlorite to the vase (for 1 liter, an incomplete cap of bleach, for example). The product destroys decaying bacteria, but does not harm the flowers. It is a good idea to add a pinch of citric acid to the liquid – the acidic environment reduces the multiplication of rot bacteria

Use a flower life preserver

At the florist, it’s a good idea to ask for a bouquet life extender. There are plenty of them on the market today. It is important that it is a product intended only for roses. Remember that they are delicate, and universal mixtures can be toxic to them

How can you tell which roses are fresh from the florist?

First of all, pay attention to the rose petals. Of course, the easiest method is to buy flowers whose buds are just developing. However, this is not always the right way, because even young flowers may have been mistreated at the florist. The condition of roses is best described by their petals. They must be uniform and free of blemishes. If the petals are drooping or have numerous blemishes, it means that they have been standing for several days in the florist’s shop

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