How to Prolong Roses

Roses are classic flowers found in gardens and cut floral arrangements.

Roses are classic flowers used in decorative arrangements, wedding bouquets and given for special occasions. Whether you receive a vase of a dozen for Valentine's Day, or you want to see your rose garden bloom longer than the neighbor's, prolonging roses allows you to enjoy their beauty longer. Take a little extra time and care with roses, and you'll be rewarded with longer-lasting cut and garden flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp garden scissors
• Bucket
• Deep tray
• White glue

Instructions

How to Prolong Cut Roses

1. Cut roses in early morning or late afternoon, if possible, using sharp garden scissors. At these times of the day, the rose will be full with plant sugars and water. Carry cut roses inside the house.

2. Fill a bucket with hot water to serve as your cutting container.

3. Fill a deep plastic or metal tray with hot water to serve as a holding container.

4. Cut approximately half of the stem off, at a slight angle, under the surface of the hot water in the cutting container. Be careful not to crush the stem during the cutting process.

5. Hold stems under the hot water for approximately 10 seconds before moving them to the holding container. Allow the entire stem to rest inside the hot water; the blooms should also be submerged.

6. Place the holding container in the refrigerator overnight once all stems have been cut.

7. Fill your vase with lukewarm water and add preservatives at your discretion. Aspirin and sugar are popular home additions to prolong cut roses, but commercial products are also available.

8. Place cut roses into the vase directly from the holding container.

9. Cut away any thorns and leaves emerging above the top of the vase.

10. Keep flowers cool and shaded whenever possible to prolong the life of the roses.

11. Re-cut stems underwater and change the water every other day or daily to further prolong the roses.

How to Prolong Garden Roses

1. Cut rose blossoms in mid or late summer, to "deadhead" roses, making them produce new blossoms. The deadheading process allows gardeners to prolong the lives of their garden roses.

2. Make all cuts at a slight angle, just above the second 5-leaf cluster on the stem.

3. Place a tiny drop of white glue on the cut stem if you've observed pest problems in your roses.

4. Make cuts farther down the stem if you're growing a species of rose that produces blossoms in clusters. The lower you cut, the longer it will take for new blossoms to grow.

5. Discard all cut blossoms or take them inside to enjoy them in vases; do not leave them in the garden as they will attract pests.

References

• Seattle Rose Society: Cutting Roses
• Rose Magazine: Deadheading Roses
• University of Illinois Extension: Take Care in Choosing, Preserving Cut Roses

Resources

• Plant EA: How to Preserve Fresh Cut Flowers--Naturally
• Karen's Garden Tips: How and What to Deadhead to Prolong Bloom