Flowers add beauty and class to any room, whether they are plucked out of a garden, bought at the store, or in a professionally designed bouquet. If you have the time and money you can, of course, replace your cut flowers daily—but there’s no need for that. With proper care, most cut flowers will look fresh and lovely for days after you bring them home. Roses are always in season for professional florists, and come in such an amazing variety that they are perfect for any occasion. Here are a few tips for keeping your cut roses looking lovely for longer.
Start Fresh
You know the flowers you cut from your garden are the freshest that can be—but what about bought roses? Most florists work to ensure that the flowers they include in your bouquets are the freshest possible, because a happy customer is usually a repeat customer. If you’re buying roses from a grocery store or stand, however, a good way to check freshness is to squeeze the base of the flower (where petals and stem meet.) Is it squishy? Avoid them. The ones you want are firm at the base.
Keep Stems Trimmed
Your professionally designed bouquet of roses will likely not need this treatment right away, but trimming the stems is one secret to longer lasting flowers. Using a sharp knife (not scissors,) cut about ½-1 inch from your stems at a 45 degree angle. It’s recommended that you do this while the stems are submerged in water. At the same time, check for lower hanging leaves and remove them so that they don’t rot the water in your vase.
Change the Water and Feed the Flowers
Change the water in your vase every few days, taking time to wash the vessel thoroughly. Bacteria buildup in the water hastens flower deterioration, so a clean vessel means a happy flower. A tiny amount of bleach in the water also helps control bacteria. Some people add flower food to the water as well, an aid to keeping the blooms looking fresh and beautiful for longer.
