How to Revive Wilted Roses

Nothing compares with the natural beauty of a vase full of roses.

Roses are a romantic gift that adds elegance and beauty to any room. However, it can be very sad when cut blooms start to wilt and fade, particularly if they marked an especially momentous occasion or special date. If the flowers were not properly cared for before they entered your home, they may start to wilt just hours after their arrival or delivery. In cases such as these, you may be able to revive the roses--temporarily of course--so that you can enjoy them for at least a few more days.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Bathtub
• Rubber bands
• Kitchen sink
• Clear carbonated, lemon-lime beverage
• Newspaper
• Sharp scissors
• Vase

Instructions

How to revive wilted roses.

1. Fill the kitchen sink with lukewarm water. It needs to be at least several inches deep. Make sure that the water is no warmer than lukewarm, or you will finish off your roses instead of reviving them.

2. 

   Separate the roses in the lukewarm water. It is okay for them to be submerged.

3. Make a fresh cut at the bottom of each stem. This will open up the tubes in the stem to help the roses rehydrate. Cut at an angle, and make sure that you use sharp scissors so that you do not injure the roses by sawing away on the stems. They should stay in the lukewarm water for this procedure.

4. Roll each flower individually in newspaper. You can secure the tube with a rubber band, but do not loop it so tightly that it crushes the rose inside.

5. 

   Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and a cup of the clear, carbonated lemon-lime drink. The water will revive the roses, and the beverage will deter bacteria from invading the fresh cuts in the stems.

6. Soak the roses in the tub for several hours. The newspaper roll will help them hold their shape while they rehydrate.

7. Place the roses in a new, clean vase half full of lukewarm water. They should look much perkier at this point and will hold their beautiful shape for several more days.

Tips & Warnings

• You may wish to add aspirin or plant food to the water in the vase in order to help your roses live longer.