Your pretty and fragrant roses don’t have to wilt after just a day or two. Sure, the freshness and variety of the roses you bought from the florist directly affect their lifespan, but most of the work will depend on how you maintain them.
So, there are certain things you can do to make these cut flowers last for up to a week. Our guide explains all the steps you need to take so you can continue to enjoy your roses for a longer time!
Step 1: Clean the vase
When you get home after buying a fresh-cut rose bouquet, you have to transfer the roses to a clean vase.
But first, ensure that the vase you’ll put the roses in is the right size, clean, and does not have any leftover debris. Otherwise, this can contaminate the water and shorten the life of your flowers.
For this, wash the vase thoroughly with warm water and soap to get rid of the dirt and bacteria that may be present.
Step 2: Fill the vase with tepid water
After that, fill the vase up to 3/4 of its height with lukewarm water. This will assist with the flowers’ uptake of nutrients better than using warm or cold water.
Step 3: Add flower food
If given a flower food packet by the florist, open and pour it into the vase. The purpose of flower food is to invigorate the flowers as they age and eliminate the harmful bacteria in the vase.
If not, you’d have to make your own flower food at home. Here is a good recipe: Mix 1 quart of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of bleach.
The sugar is for giving the flowers nutrients, and the bleach is for warding off bacteria.
Step 4: Cut the stems diagonally
Next, cut the stems of the flowers at a 45° angle using a sterile knife or kitchen shears. The explanation behind this angle is to increase the surface area for water absorption by the flowers.
Don’t use a dull blade or scissors in cutting the stems because these will crush them. As a result, the flowers won’t be able to drink up in order to stay fresh and healthy.
Step 5: Store them in the fridge
Use the trick that florists do to keep their collection of flowers fresh for customers: chill your flowers in the fridge.
We especially suggest doing this if you’re going away to work or on a trip for a day or longer and can’t take care of them.
However, the vase has to be small enough to fit under the fridge. Also, be sure to remove all fruit because they give off ethylene gas which causes the roses to age and droop.
Step 6: Change the water
Every two to three days, make it a point to change the vase water. Flowers drink a lot of water and the water will become dirty causing them to wilt rapidly.
While you’re at it, remember to also take out the flowers, rinse the vase entirely, and replace clean water up to 3/4 of the container’s height. This will increase the longevity of your flowers.
Step 7: Remove dead leaves
As time goes on, leaves will begin to rot and wilt on the stem. So, you have to pluck them out as soon as you notice, so they won’t fall in the water, which pollutes the water and shortens the life of your roses.
Besides that, removing dead leaves will keep your rose arrangement majestic and neat at your house for you and other people to praise and appreciate!
