Roses are the easiest way to brighten up a woman’s day and put a big smile on her face. The one annoying thing about cut flowers such as roses is that they only last a couple of days. If you have been having this problem, then I will share with you some tips as to how to make your roses last longer.
Place Cut Roses in a Clean Vase
When placing a bouquet of flowers in your own vase or container, make sure you start out with a clean vase. A dirty vase could have a variety of contaminants and bacteria that can get into the water. This will pollute the water and shorten the life of the roses.
You can clean your vase with a diluted solution of bleach and water. Please ensure that the vase is properly washed out once you have finished cleaning it.
Not too Much Water
A common mistake people make is putting too much water in the vase. Flowers absorb the water they need from the bottom of the stem. So you really need only about 1-2 inches of the stem submerged.
Change the Water
If you want the roses to last longer, then it is important that you change the water daily. This will extend the life of the flower and it will not wilt as quickly. When adding water, make sure it is warm and not cold. Cut flowers absorb warm water better than cold.
Cut the Stems
Cutting the stems is also a good way to extend the life of roses. Before you put them in the vase, remove all the leaves and other foliage from the stems that will be resting in the water. This is done as the rotting leaves can pollute the water. You should then cut the stems every day to allow for better water absorption. Instead of cutting the stems straight, do it at a 45 degree angle.
Keep Them Away from the Heat
Roses will last longer if they are stored away from the heat and in a place that is cool. Do not put it near to a heat source such as your television, fireplace, heater etc. If you are going out for the day or going to bed, you can place the roses in the refrigerator. This will help to keep them fresh and extend their life.
Keep Them Away from Fruit
Keep roses away from fruits, certain vegetables and other flowers. Some of these products, such as apples give off ethylene gas which can cause roses to wilt prematurely.
Feed Them
That little package that typically comes with the bouquet of roses is actually food for the roses. If you want to extend the life of your flowers, make sure you feed them according to the instructions.
Old Wives Tales You Can Try
There are a bunch of old wives tales and myths out there that claim to make the roses last longer. While some of them sound pretty out there, there is actually some truth to them. Below I will highlight a couple of them that you can try.
Drop a Penny
If you add a penny to the water in the vase, the roses will last longer. It is believed that pennies act like an acidifier, which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Aspirin
Could be a total myth, but you can give it a try. Put some crushed aspirin in the water before you add the roses. This should help to extend their life…I hope.
Bleach
If you want the roses to last longer, you can also try adding bleach to the water. Bleach is good at killing off bacteria. It has to be the right amount, as too much can kill the plant. Dilute about ¼ teaspoon of bleach for 1 liter of water.
If you have had problems keeping roses, then if you follow a couple of the steps above, you should have no problem getting your bouquet of roses to last over a week. Just remember to change the water, keep the stems cut and keep them away from the heat. Your home will look great and you can enjoy your roses for a much longer time.
