How to keep cut roses in a vase beautiful for a long time?

Preparation of water

The quality of the water is of great importance for the bouquet. Not only the storage of roses depends on its composition and temperature, but also their maintenance in their original form for a long time. It has been noticed that in high-quality water a rose can stand for more than a month without losing its beauty, and moreover, it can even “grow up” – the stem will grow and the flower will bloom. But this effect can be achieved only if you know how to properly store cut roses in a vase for a long time.

Let’s start with water. It must be fresh and clean. The best option is distilled or filtered water. If possible, you can use water from a well. Tap water must first be settled or boiled. The purity of the water should be given special attention. It should be crystal clear, free of sediment that may form during settling. Here it would be useful to mention the cleanliness of the vase, because if there are traces of previous bouquets in it, the water will quickly deteriorate and the roses will wither.

The temperature of the water depends on the time of year: in summer, cool, but not too cold water is suitable, and in winter, the rosette will feel more comfortable in water at room temperature. In order for roses to stand in the water for as long as possible, they need to be fed. Usually, sugar and vinegar are used for this purpose, which are added to the vase at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon / 1 liter of water. However, in this solution, flowers can live until microbes begin to multiply.

The appearance of microorganisms is a common process for any liquid, which can be stopped by disinfectants and preparations:

• the most affordable remedy, tested in action by many housewives, is aspirin, it is thrown into a vase of water at the rate of only 0,5 tablets / 1 liter. water;
• citric acid – the powder is added to the water at the rate of 0,5 tsp / 1 liter. water;
• alum (a natural antimicrobial agent) – a small crystal is enough.

If the house does not find any of the above, then you can resort to alternative means. For example, ordinary vodka, which is added to water in the amount of several tablespoons (depending on the volume of water), or a silver product, helps to keep roses longer.

When purchasing a bouquet in a large flower shop, ask the seller: how to save cut roses, or what to add to the water so that the flowers stand in a vase longer?

He will surely offer you special preparations to prolong the life of the bouquet. You can purchase them, and simply add them to rose water in the proportion indicated in the instructions.

Very often, beautiful large roses, especially imported ones, are grown using chemical means. If you are sure that your flowers have already experienced the effects of chemistry, then instead of aspirin, you can safely add a couple of drops of any fabric bleach to the water. It sounds intimidating, but it is this tool that florists use when they make bouquets that do not fade for a long time.

Video “Keeping roses fresh”

From the video you will learn how to extend the life of your bouquet.

Preparing flowers

Having bought or received a bouquet as a gift, you should not immediately put it in water without prior preparation. If the flowers are brought from the cold, then warm air and water will be a real stress for them, so first the roses need to be gradually adapted to the temperature of the room. It would also be useful to make sure that the bouquet is fresh in order to know how to store it in the future, since stale flowers, even with the most competent care, can stand for only a few days.

You can check the freshness of roses by the sepals located under the flower. If they are dense and well pressed to the bud, this means that the flowers are fresh. Dropped or dried sepals indicate that the flowers were cut a few days ago.

After the bouquet lies a little in the room, you can remove the packaging from it and proceed with the preparation:

• to begin with, lower the stems for two hours into a bath or a bucket filled with water so that they are saturated with moisture – you should avoid getting water on the flowers, as they can start to rot from moisture;
• then cut each stem at an acute angle, without removing it from the water, so air cannot get inside the stem, and this will prolong the life of the rose;
• all leaves and thorns in that part of the stem that will be immersed in water are removed – in contact with water, the leaves are the first to rot;
• so that the stems absorb water better, the sections need to be split a little.

With such preparation and proper daily care, the bouquet will delight you with its freshness for a long time.

Storage

You can seriously approach the preparation of water and the flowers themselves, but this will not bring the desired result if the location of the bouquet is chosen incorrectly. When deciding on a place for a vase with roses, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• put the bouquet in a cool, slightly shaded place where direct sunlight does not fall;
• the vase should be placed away from windows and doors – this will avoid drafts, which are very harmful to roses;
• it is not advisable to put roses near other plants, flowers or fruits – such a neighborhood will deprive the flowers of aroma and speed up their wilting;
• roses do not tolerate polluted air, so place the bouquet away from parking lots and smoking areas;
• also, do not place the bouquet in close proximity to an air conditioner or heater.

Remember! The rose loves coolness and moderate humidity, in these conditions it remains fresh for a long time and does not lose its amazing aroma.

If you bought a bouquet in advance and need to save it until the next day, take this advice: cut the stems, put them in water for two hours, then wrap them in film or parchment paper and place in the refrigerator.

Don’t worry about the flowers withering, in the cold they are perfectly preserved without water. This method is used by all flower growers who grow roses for sale. They cut the buds, pack them in foil and put them in a cold place (cellar, cellar, refrigerator), where the roses are perfectly preserved for several days. By the way, rose seedlings in the basement can be stored until spring.  

Daily Care

To begin with, we will discuss what a vase should be like so that the flowers feel comfortable in it:

• for a small bouquet (3-5 roses), an oblong elegant vase with a heavy base and a narrow top is suitable;
• it is better to put a lush bouquet in a wide cylindrical vase that will not turn over, and a wide neck will provide air access to the stems;
• roses stand longer in dishes made of opaque material (ceramics, tinted glass) – light penetrates into a transparent vase, which leads to heating of water and the reproduction of microbes;
• Pour enough water into the vase so that the stems sink into it by a third of their length.

And now we will reveal some secrets on how to extend the life of roses in a vase:

• water must be changed daily, or at least every other day, each time re-adding nutrients and disinfectants;
• with each change of water, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the vase, rinse the stems and renew the sections;
• regularly spray the flowers with a spray bottle with clean water, trying not to get inside the buds.

When, despite all the above procedures, the bouquet begins to fade, a cold bath will help to revive it. Type cool (10-12 ° C) water, place roses in it so that only the stems are immersed, and the flowers are above the surface, cover with foil and leave overnight. If by morning the freshness of the flowers has not returned, add a couple of drops of ammonia to the water, and they will come to life again. Using these simple tips, it is possible to extend the life of roses in a vase by several weeks or a whole month.

Video “Care for cut roses”

From the video you will learn how to care for cut flowers.