I adore using roses in my bouquets – I know, no surprises there! They come in a wide array of colours and varieties, and they hold such beautiful meanings, ranging from passion and admiration to a deep romantic love. Roses are quite literally the most popular flower in the world in terms of growing and giving, and after my years working in my own floristry shop, I can definitely attest to this!
If you’ve been lucky enough to receive a gorgeous bouquet of fresh-cut roses, you’ll be looking for some simple instructions on how to care for them. You’ve come to the right place! Roses are delicate, but with a little TLC, they can retain their good looks for as long as possible.
Step 1: Strip the leaves
Once you’ve got your flowers, start by stripping the leaves from the lower two inches of each stem. Leaving the leaves on the stems and having them sitting below the water line is only going to result in some nasty bacteria growth and mouldy, discoloured leaves.
Use a sharp knife to strip away the leaves––not a metal stripper. We want to get rid of the leaves as gently as possible, without damaging the stems.
Step 2: Cut the stems
Cut each rose stem at an angle with a sharp knife or pruners. Try to cut at the very bottom of the stem––we don’t want to risk damaging the flower by cutting too close to the top. If in doubt about how far down you should go, err on the side of cutting too little rather than too much off your stems. Cutting the stems too short will only hasten their demise and make it difficult for them to stay hydrated and healthy after they are placed into water.
Step 3: Fill your vase
Grab your vase and fill it about a third of the way full with fresh, clean water. If you’re using preservative/flower food, this is when you’ll add that in too. Preservatives are available at most florists and grocery stores and will help protect your flowers from bacteria that can cause them to wilt quickly.
Step 4: Regularly change the water
If you can do this daily, all the better. You’ll want to remove your roses from the vase and thoroughly clean the vase before refilling it with water. This ensures that you’ve scrubbed out any lingering bacteria that could eat away at your roses’ vase life. Refill the vase with clean water and preservative (if you’re using it). Before replacing the roses, take your sharp knife or scissors and give their stems another short, diagonal snip. This just helps the roses rehydrate easier and prevents any bacteria from contaminating the fresh water.
Step 5: Keep away from heat
As with most cut flowers, roses don’t do well under excessive sunlight, heat or draughts. Place your vase in an area of your home that doesn’t get a lot of direct sun (indirect is okay) and keep them away from heaters and air conditioners to help them keep that moisture inside.
Tip: Are your buds drooping? One of my tricks is to cut about an inch off the stem before placing it into boiling water for five seconds (only the bottom two inches should be in the water). Transfer the rose back to your regular vase of water and by the next morning, your bud should be back to normal.
By following all these steps, you’re going to have a very happy bunch of roses. Now you know how to care for them, make sure you snap some photos of your bouquets and tag us @bloomcollege on Facebook and Instagram––we love seeing your creations!
