How to Keep Floral Roses Alive the Longest
Roses are not cheap, and if anyone is nice enough to send you a dozen roses, you surely want to extend their life for as long as you can. In addition, fresh-cut roses have a short growing season, so when you do cut the roses and take them inside, it is important to extend their life as long as possible. There are several things you can do to elongate your enjoyment of your roses. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut the roses early during the morning or late during the day. Roses store starch and you want to cut them when starch levels are at their highest.
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Cut the flowers while the stems are dry and not damp. Because of this, if you cut your flowers in the morning, do it after the morning dew burns off. This is the first time you will cut the roses so it does not matter if you cut the stems at a 45-degree angle or straight across.
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Cut the rose stems of flowers that are not fully opened. The more closed the bulb the better.
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Cut the stems with sharp pruners, not scissors that will likely mash the end of the stems. Cut the flowers at a 45-degree angle.
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Place the cut ends of the stems into lukewarm water as soon as you cut the flowers.
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Cut the stems a second time with a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle before you immediately place them into a vase filled half full with tap water. Remove all leaves immersed in water. This will help to prevent rot. Leave the flowers in fresh tap water for one day.
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Drain the water from the vase after one day and then fill the vase with a 50/50 mix of lemon lime soda and water. Change the lemon lime soda/water mixture daily.
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Place the roses in to a cool area or in your refrigerator nightly.
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References
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