Getting the most from your Valentines Day roses

How often have you bought or received a gorgeous bouquet of fresh roses only to find them leaning and wilting the next day? First off, they are quite likely old or poor quality roses. It could also be that the florist or market did not process them properly when delivered to their location. Roses are delicate and usually arrive to a florist or market from far off destinations such as Central America, South America, Canada and Europe.

The roses need a good inch cut from their stems at an angle with a sharp knife or pruner and then they need instant hydration in fresh warm water and flower food for several hours before refrigeration. A good quality bouquet of long stem roses should remain fresh and perky for about 5 to 7 days in your home.

What can you do if your roses have begun to lean? Give them a fresh cut as mentioned above and rearrange them in a container with fresh water and floral food. If they are still not up to par after a few hours, another great option is to cut the roses to a very short length and layer them in a low bowl or cube. This makes for a unique look and honestly, the roses will love it because the short stem length allows them to drink up the water more quickly. Roses at a 2-3" stem length will easily last twice as long.

Stop by Art In Bloom or give me a call if you have any other floral related questions. And of course, I would be glad to show you a lovely bouquet of roses, gerbera daisies, orchids, birds of paradise or any other flowers from my floral boutique!