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Caring for Roses

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-413 -- More Projects »
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To prop up a wilting rose, insert a piece of wire through the stem near the bloom, then turn the flower, wrapping the wire down the stem.
Meg Gilliland of Larkspur Floral Studio offers tips for buying and caring for roses.
  • Once the roses are at home, avoid spillage when watering them by using a kitchen turkey baster to reach into narrow vases and fill the arrangements.

  • When buying roses, make sure to pick the freshest ones available. Avoid choosing older roses that have many loosened petals with little buds left in the center.

  • Also try to avoid choosing roses with green buds. These may have been cut too tight, therefore no petals have fallen, and the rose head may be prone to bending at the stem. Furthermore, the rose may never open at all. These are called bullets.

  • Look for roses with the best quality. Some signs of this may be good-looking foliage, a sturdy stem, a firm head and a long break between the head and the first few leaves.

  • Before putting roses in a container, remove all foliage that will be submerged in the water. If the leaves are left on they will grow moldy and damage the water. Cut the stems again, and to ensure the longest life possible, hold the stems underwater and cut them on a slant.

  • Make sure to use a vase that is about half as tall as the roses to ensure that the roses stand straight and tall.

  • The outside damaged petals of roses should be torn off before arranging flowers in the vase.

  • The life of a rose varies anywhere from four to seven days.

  • Colored roses, besides red for Valentine's Day, are a good idea and are usually fresher. Red roses have been cut for a longer amount of time, since they are typically bought in a larger quantity.

  • For Valentine's Day, a flower other than a rose may be a good investment for a loved one. Roses are expensive, and an alternative could be just as special. For example, a dozen tulips or a few orchids are more creative than the usual roses.
Also in this Episode
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-413
•Prepare Kids for Absence
•Lemon Uses
•Caring for Roses
•Tip of the Day
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