Stop and smell the roses, whip out a pair of shears, and bring the blooms home with you.To prolong the life of your bouquet, cut the stems at an angle so they can get enough water, trim the lower leaves, and place the roses in a clean vase filled with water.You can enjoy your roses for 1 to 2 weeks if you feed them regularly.
Step 1: If you want to cut the stem cleanly, choose pruners or scissors.
The waterways are in the stem.The sharper the blade of the scissors, the easier it will be to trim the stem.If you want to reach into thick bushes, you should use a pair of shears or scissors with a smaller head.Curved blades tend to be the cleaner of the two.Some scissors and shears have a cut and hold feature that holds onto the stems when they are cut so they don't fall to the ground.Rub alcohol or soap on the blades to clean them.
Step 2: Cut the roses before 10 a.m.
In the morning, roses are the most hydrated and have the highest respiration.The roses should never be cut in the middle of the day.That is when they are weakest and driest.Late evening is the best time to cut flowers if you can't do it in the morning.
Step 3: The outer petals of roses have just started to open.
The rose is late in its bud stage.The petals should be unfurled, but the whole flower should not be completely open.A rose variety's number of petals can affect its blooms.The Moonstone and St. Patrick types of roses can be cut at a more open stage.If you don't know which variety you have, ask your local nursery or look at a gardening book or website.
Step 4: Close to the base of the bush, cut the stems at a 45 degree angle.
Cutting the stems on an angle prevents them from sitting on the bottom of a vase, which would stop water from flowing up the stem.If you need to fit a vase, cut the stems as low to the ground as you can.The front of the bush has stems.The stems in the back have not been exposed to as much sunlight.
Step 5: Cut the stems and put them in a bucket of water.
This doesn't have to be a vase.If you need to work inside, use a bucket with a large enough opening.If the water level in the bucket is too high, the flowers will be wet.The stems should be wet.At a garden store, nursery or online retailer, you can buy buckets for flowers.Before you place the roses inside the bucket, make sure you thoroughly clean and wash it with soap and water.
Step 6: Warm water and soap can be used to wash a vase.
This is not the same as the bucket you put the roses in.A clean vase is essential to keep your roses fresh, since anybacteria left in the vase can kill the blooms.The bottle brush can be used to get down into the vase.If your vase is dishwasher safe, run it in the dishwasher.
Step 7: The leaves are below the water line.
This makes sure that the leaves don't get into the water.Use scissors to remove the leaves as close to the stem as possible.Don't remove all of the leaves.The roses won't be able to pull water up the stem.If you notice leaves dropping into the water while you are arranging the stems, you should immediately fish them out.
Step 8: Keeping them underwater, cut the stems another 1 inch.
The waterways in the stems need to be free of air bubbles.Don't pull them out of the water while you cut them.The stems should be cut at a 45 degree angle.If you have to shorten the roses to fit the vase, you can cut the stems more than 1 inch.You can protect your hands from the thorns by wearing gloves.
Step 9: The rose stems should be placed inside a vase filled with water.
Cool orlukewarm water is best for roses.The bigger the vase, the more water you will need.The roses should be placed in a small vase.They won't get enough water.If you want to prolong the life of your roses, sprinkle plant food into the water.You can buy premade plant food at a garden store.
Step 10: Keep the roses out of the sun.
Too much sun will cause cut roses to stop growing.They should not be placed on a windowsill or in a room that isn't temperature controlled.The roses will last longer if you put them in the fridge.Don't put roses near fruits or vegetables that are ripening.The produce ages cut flowers.
Step 11: The water should be changed daily to prevent the growth ofbacteria.
The roses will die faster if the water is dirty.Do you think it was possible to keep your roses alive if you couldn't replace the water every day?Do not use softened water.It's bad for the roses because it contains salt.The water should be changed immediately if it becomes cloudy.You should put more plant food in the vase when you change the water.
Step 12: The rose stems should be cut every 2 to 3 days.
Cut them on a 45 degree slant to prevent the waterways from getting blocked.You don't need to shorten them much.A small trim of 2 inch will do.Before cutting the stems, make sure your scissors are clean.Pull out the stems if you can't cut them in the vase.Return them to the water after cutting them so they don't dry out.