You’ll probably agree that roses are super special. For example, not many blooms look luxurious in a stand-alone bouquet, but roses do. A bouquet with them fits any occasion, and that’s no exaggeration. You just change the color of the flower and get a new message each time. And they can stay bright and beautiful for quite a long, too! Of course, on condition that you show them a little love and care. But what exactly should you do? To find out, we asked a few questions to ART Flowers LA’s florist, Olesya Petrushina. If there’s anyone who knows ALL about how to keep cut roses fresh longer, it’s certainly her!
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Olesya Petrushina: Hi, Alicia! Oh, well, I hope I do. I guess that the best way to keep roses alive the longest is through proper hydration. As soon as you receive your bouquet of roses, you should cut the stems at an angle and place them in a clean vase. The latter should be filled with warm water. This way, the blooms will be able to better absorb water.
Then, you can also add flower food. It helps a lot as it provides the necessary nutrients and prevents bacterial growth. This food is like a luxurious spa treatment for your roses. It’s not obligatory but very, very welcome.
© artflowersla.com - White rose bouquet
Olesya: Yes, right. So pruning is basically necessary for health and longevity. That is, if we leave leaves or thorns below the waterline, they’ll most likely cause bacterial growth. This will naturally shorten the lifespan of your flowers. So, if we are thinking of how to keep a cut single rose alive or how to keep an entire bouquet alive, regular pruning is one of the first things that comes to mind. This way, we prevent the plant from wasting energy on dying parts. It should be very thankful for that.
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Olesya: Absolutely, yes! You see, roses should be kept in a cool place. They don’t like direct sunlight or heat sources at all. If the temperatures are higher than necessary, they’ll cause the flowers to wilt faster. So yes, we should always keep them in a cool, shaded area if we want them fresh and well.
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Olesya: Certainly! There are actually quite many tricks here. But let’s, at least, focus on the basics.
So, first things first, we’ve got the vase. It must be perfectly clean. Always clean it thoroughly before you put a bouquet there. There can be bacteria inside it that can affect your roses. Or whatever flowers you have.
Then, the water. Like I said, it should be warm. Many people use cold water. It’s not a mistake, but warm water is optimal as it is more easily absorbed by the stems.
Then, you can add flower food to the water to provide essential nutrients. There are actually different kinds of this food. For example, you can use a mix of vinegar and sugar. Or, you can add a few drops of vodka as it helps to kill bacteria in the water. Alternatively, you can mix lemon juice, sugar, and bleach. This combination will also keep the water fresh. So, there are quite a few variants here.
Besides, you need to remove any leaves below the waterline, recut the stems at an angle every few days, and refresh the water every two days. Plus, the temperatures. They must be cool, like we’ve said.
© artflowersla.com - Mixed flower bouquet
Olesya: It includes proper hydration, regular pruning, and a clean environment. The last point may sound a bit too general, but you should always use a clean vase with warm water and flower food. And then, there are also the right temperatures. Of course, that’s the basics, and there are more tricks here. At ART Flowers, we are always happy to consult you on anything you are interested in. Just reach out to us and ask your question!
Just reach out to us and ask your question!
© artflowersla.com - 100 roses bouquet
Olesya: Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you at ART Flowers!
