Roses Love To Drink: Pour Them a Warm One as Soon As They Arrive Home
DIY bargain hunters and first time buyers of florist rose packs will give their roses a big boost by treating them to a long, tall drink as soon as they arrive home. Roses travel from faraway lands to beautify our lives. Welcome your 25 stem Valentine’s rosebeauties by hydrating them properly to look their best and last longer. Here’s what to do:
1. Unwrap the paper around the stems. When you get roses home remove paper around the bottom of the stems.
2. Cut stems 1-2 inches. This will give the flowers a greater area to absorb the water – the more water the roses can take in the longer they will last.
3. Strip the leaves. Remove all leaves from the stem portion being placed in water. This prevents bacteria from forming in the water.
4. Put the cleaned rose stems into warm water immediately, so that the stems don’t have time to absorb air (it is the air in the stems that makes the roses ‘nod). Add flower food or a few drops of bleach or vodka to the water to prevent bacteria. If the stem absorbs air, an air bubble will form, travel up the stem and when it reaches the flower head the stem becomes soft and the rose will nod.”
5. After 30 minutes, remove all paper packaging around the roses and strip stems clean of leaf material on the part of the stem that will be in the water. If needed, add more warm water to the vase. Let them drink and breathe outside of the packaging for an hour.
6. If the water appears muddy, or becomes darker over time, add all new warm water, flower food, or an antibacterial and re-cut the stems.
