Roses are beautiful and getting a bouquet of them is a gift that keeps on giving. That is until the roses die after just a few days, and you have to put them in the garbage feeling like you let them down in some way. The question is how to make your roses last.
On average, cut roses last just a week even when stored in the right place and has had flower food added to the water.
Keep reading this guide to find out the different tips and tricks that you can try to make your roses last longer so that you can sit back and admire them for longer.
Choosing The Right Kind Of Rose
The first thing that affects how long your roses will last is the type of rose that was used.
However, this section can be skipped if you are not in control of the type of roses you get, for example, if you get them as a gift or don’t have access to any other variation.
If you are the one who is selecting the roses then you should look for the Poison rose which has a dark pink color, as well as the Reward rose, and the Valentino rose.
These types of roses are said to last several days longer than other roses so if you choose these, you are already starting off on the right foot.
How To Make Roses Last Longer
When you buy roses, they usually come with a little packet of flower food which you should add as soon as you put the flowers into a vase, and they will benefit greatly, but to make the roses last longer, you will have to do more than that.
Before we get into more detail as to how to make your roses last longer, we will cover the basics of what you should do when you get them.
Before you put your roses into any water, you must cut about an inch off of the bottom of the stems at a slightly diagonal angle.
By doing this, you are re-opening the part of the rose that absorbs the water and nutrients after it has dried up, thus being able to absorb more goodness.
As for the vase, it should be medium-sized and very clean because if it is not, there is a risk that bacteria from inside the vase can negatively affect the roses.
To clean it thoroughly, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to remove any built-up residue and dirt.
If you can avoid it, do not use water straight from your faucet to fill up the vase as it can have chemicals in it that are harmful to the roses.
Instead, fill the vase up with warm water that has been filtered beforehand to make sure that it is purified.
When you see the roses start to droop, take them out of the vase and re-cut their stems before filling it back up with fresh water to give them a new lease of life.
You should replace the water every other day to prevent bacteria from growing on the stems which can make the roses wilt.
When placing the roses in your home, make sure that they are not in the line of direct sunlight or nearby a heat source as this can make them quickly dry out.
Another thing that can make your roses dehydrate is by leaving windows and doors open nearby.
Also, you should not place your roses next to a bowl of fruit because ripening fruits and vegetables release a gas called ethylene which speeds up the wilting process of the roses.
Solution
There are a lot of tips and tricks that are out there on the internet that will tell you of the different things that you can add to make the roses last longer.
In this guide, we will collate this information all into one place so that you can try the different methods and see which ones work best for you.
When we talk about the solution, we are referring to what you add to the water, they range from believable to a bit random but trust us when we say that they work.
The first thing that you can add to the water is vodka but only a few drops.
By adding vodka to the water, you are interfering with the roses’ ripening process as the vodka has properties that inhibit the production of ethylene which is a ripening gas that slows down the effects of wilting.
Adding aspirin to the water lowers the pH level which makes it thinner and easier for the rose to absorb. By having access to more water, the roses will take longer to wilt.
The best amount of aspirin to add is no more than two tablets that should be crushed with the back of a spoon before being added.
Bleach is another thing that you can add to the water but only in very small amounts. It will help keep the water much clearer and will prevent bacteria from growing that can cause the roses to rot and wilt.
Most homes have copper coins lying around that just get in the way more than anything but there may be a use for them after all.
By dropping copper coins into the water, it acts as an acidifier that helps fight the growth of bacteria. You will also notice that the blooms will open up more fully which exposes every last inch of the roses’ beauty.
You should only add one coin at a time and replace the water every three days before replacing the coin as well.
Some swear by adding soda to the water whereas others say that it’s a total myth but either way, there is no harm in trying it anyway as the worst that can happen is for the roses do not last any longer than usual.
It is said that soda helps prolong the lifespan of the roses due to the added sugar in the soda that nourishes the flowers, making them look healthier for longer.
Another way to tackle the growth of bacteria is by making a mixture of two parts apple cider vinegar and two parts water as well as a bit of sugar if you want your roses to get a bit more food.
There is a technique that is done by a lot of florists to keep their flowers fresher for longer and roses are no exception.
It involved putting the roses in a refrigerator overnight and taking them out during the daytime.
Hair Spray
It may sound silly, but hair spray works the same way on flowers as it does on hair.
The best way to apply hairspray to your roses is by holding them upside down out of the vase and spraying them with the hairspray on the undersides of the leaves and petals.
This will give the petals a bit of lift, and they will not wilt as quickly with the added structure.
Removing The Leaves
As well as trimming the stalks, you should also remove any leaves that will fall below the waterline. This is because when the leaves are submerged underwater, it makes them decay which opens the roses up to rot and therefore die much sooner.
Summary
Most of us know the basics of how to keep cut flowers fresher for longer but not a lot of people are aware of the tips and tricks that are a bit more hidden.
However, once you know of these techniques, you are probably asking yourself how you didn’t know about them sooner because they are so simple, and you don’t need any fancy equipment or ingredients to do them.
When trying these methods, you can cycle through them to see which one works best, or you can even try multiple of them at the same time to come up with the ultimate combination.
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The majority of people who have no interest in the subject, and aren’t green fingered assume that all plants and vegetables require the same growing conditions. This is not the case at all. Each plant has its own unique and interesting history and growing process.
I hope you will find The Natural List useful, and that it will help educate you on the wide variety of different flower and plant species there are across the globe.
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