How to Store Roses

Store roses to last up to two weeks.

Whether you've just picked roses from your backyard or someone gave you the gift of roses, you need to store them properly to prolong their life. Follow a few simple steps, and you'll be able to enjoy your roses for up to two weeks.

Things You'll Need

• Packet of flower food
• Vase
• Scissors or pruning shears
• Bleach
• Lemon-lime soda

Instructions

1. Empty one flower food packet per one dozen roses into a vase. Fill the vase with lukewarm water, and take a long spoon and mix the water so that the flower food dissolves.

2. Cut each rose stem on a diagonal under a steady stream of warm water with sharp scissors or pruning shears. Immediately place each rose into the vase. Snap off any leaves that will be submerged under water when the flowers are placed in the vase.

3. Place the vase of flowers in a cool environment to prolong their life. If the flowers are specifically for display, storing them in a refrigerator overnight will help preserve them. Change the water every two days or whenever the water appears cloudy. Each time you replace the water, add another packet of flower food. If you don't have another packet of flower food, create your own by combining 1/2 tsp. of bleach with 1 pint of warm water and lemon-lime soda. If the roses are wilting even after following these steps, re-cut the stems on a diagonal under a stream of warm water and return them to the vase.

References

• Thrify Fun: Preserving Fresh Cut Roses