What could smell or look lovelier than a vase full of stunning roses? With just a little care, they can last a very long time in a vase.
5 Tips For Cutting Roses
1. Wait until after 3 p.m. to cut, when their nutrient levels are the highest.
2. Choose buds that have just started to open, only 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through the process. Once a bud has fully opened, it's too late to cut.
3. Always use a sharp, clean pair of shears. Dull shears crush the stem, and dirty shears can transmit diseases.
4. Don't remove all of the leaves -- keep at least 3 to help feed the bloom. Remove only leaves that will be below the water level of the vase.
5. Once you have finished cutting all the roses for the day, bring them inside to begin the water conditioning and hardening process.
9 Tips For Preserving Roses
Now that they are cut, the clock starts ticking.
The first threat to a cut rose's health is the air pocket that entered the stem when you cut the rose outdoors. It will work its way up to the stem, cutting off the nutrient supply and shortening the bloom's life.
1. Replace that air with water. The easiest way is to fill a bowl with hot tap water, as hot as you can stand to put your hands into.
2. Add any - continued below ...
