Cut Roses: Proper Care Before Putting Them on Display

I don't know when a gift of fresh flowers is more appreciated than in February, especially for those persons living in frigid locations who look through frost-covered windows in futile attempts to reconnect with spring.

Welcoming your cut roses into your home

Cut roses are very perishable. They have been harvested, transported and stored, and then transported again. Therefore, they will need a great deal of tender, loving care in order to maintain their freshness and beauty for the longest time possible.

First and foremost, roses need water. If they arrive with water reservoirs on the stems you will have a little extra time before tending to them. You can place them in a cool location for awhile but preferably not in the refrigerator unless you remove fruit that you have stored in there. Fruits give off ethylene gas that can speed the aging of flowers.

Steps in caring for your roses

The first step in caring for your roses is to recut the stems. Use a sharp knife and recut the stems on a slant which will help them with water absorption. Cut the stems under water and then put the stems directly in lukewarm water. Cutting under water helps prevent air bubbles from entering the stems which can block water absorption.

Remove the lower leaves that will be in water to prevent decay but try not to remove more than 1/3 of the leaves. Avoid injuring the stem bark.

Condition the flowers by putting them in lukewarm water and in a cool, dark place for several hours. You can read more detailed instructions on conditioning roses at jackeden.com. (Click here).

Transferring the roses to a vase

Use a clean vase; rinse the inside of the vase with a bleach solution if you think that bacteria might be present in the vase. Do not put your roses in steel or iron containers.

Add a preservative to the water that you will be using in the vase. Follow the directions with the packet of preservative that has come with the roses, or make your own solution.

Two recipes for homemade floral preservative are available at viette.com. (Click here). Another source is at au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens. (Click here).

You do not need to fill the vase full of water, but be sure to add water as needed on a regular basis.

Do not put the vase in sunlight, on top of a TV or near a fruit bowl. Avoid excessive heat or cold. Move the vase at night to the coolest room in the house.

Free rose coloring pages for children in the home

If you have children in the home, you can involve them in the appreciation of the roses by downloading and printing three rose coloring pages available from buyroses101.com. (Click here).

Enjoy the beauty of your cut flowers. Most sources suggest that the vase life of roses is between 4 to 12 days, but with proper on-going care you may well be able to enjoy them even longer than that.

For more articles by this writer, click here.
Suggested reading:
Is it Still Valentine's Day If There Is No Date or No Mate? by R.C. Johnson, 1/27/10
Cut Roses: How to Choose Roses that Are Beautiful and Long Lasting, by R.C. Johnson, 2/11/10

Source:
quotegarden.com