How to Care for Cut Roses

Oh! Those roses are pretty! If only they could last forever . . .

While only artificial roses can do that, these tips in the care of roses keep them fresh and beautiful for a week at least. First, familiarize yourself with the top three culprits the American Rose Society views as guilty in pre-mature rose fading. These are:

	1.	Air Bubbles. An air bubble forms in the stem and blocks water and nutrients from reaching the rose petals.
	2.	Bacterial Blockage. That cloudy water is more than a nuisance. As with the water bubbles, bacteria multiplies and prevents water and nutrients from traveling up-stem to petals.
	3.	Starvation. The bloom needs fed constantly. The stem and leaves create the food through photosynthesis. Depletion of the sugar (energy) within the stem and leaves causes the petals to drop off.

When You First Get the Roses

Do not leave roses sitting on the counter while you hunt up a pretty vase. Instead, treat the flowers.

First, think of the air bubbles that may have formed at the end of the stem. Submerge flowers in hot (although not boiling) water and cut off at least one-half inch of the stem. Keep the bloom itself out of the water. Botanists recommend hot water because it flows more easily through the plant and can even dissipate trapped air.

Cut stems at an angle under water to ensure you’re creating a long surface for water absorption. Do not crush the stem, as the damaged plant material will also get in the way of water and nutrient transport.

Leave the flowers in the warm water for an hour and then fill the bucket full so that most of the stem is under water. Again, keep the water away from the bloom itself. Refrigerate the flowers for two hours.

Put the stems into a vase along with a drop of bleach and the preservatives (food) that most likely came with your flowers (Floralife™ or Bloomlife™). If you don’t have either, some florists use sugar in a pinch.

Cut away leaves and thorns that will be below the water level once you submerge them again. These can rot and cause bacterial growth in the water. While trimming flowers, make sure to leave 3 leaves on each stem. Leaves gather the energy the flower needs to feed the bloom.

Place roses in indirect light, away from sun, cold and heating vent drafts.

While You Have the Roses

Check the container regularly and make sure there is plenty of water. Roses drink water quickly. Cut stems again at least every other day while they are under water to prevent blockage. To slow or stop bacterial growth, clean vase with mild, soapy water and rinse thoroughly each time you refill water. Remember to add more preservative (food) as you add more water. Also, add that one drop of Clorox to fight bacterial growth. Give roses a rest in a cool place like the garage or patio at night when family and/or guests aren’t around.

One rose that fades before the others may have an air bubble or bacterial blockage. Cut stem by one inch and submerge it in warm water below the blossom for an hour. Return it to the vase, and hope for the best.

Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May; Old Time is Still a Flying . . .

The old poem by 17th century British poet Robert Herrick refers to feminine beauty, but it reminds us, too, that time flies when we’re trying to prolong such beauty as the rose offers. The above strategies help trick the rose into thinking it’s still in as natural an environment as long as possible. And when the rose finally does fade . . . there are millions of acres full of new roses waiting to replace them.