Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing the freshest roses
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Roses are beautiful, fragrant flowers that come in a variety of colors and sizes. With proper care, roses can remain fresh for a week and a half after cutting. To prevent your roses from wilting, change the water they are in every few days, use a clean vase, and place the roses in a cool place.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing the freshest roses

1. Prune your own roses early in the morning. If you cut roses from your own garden to put them indoors, prune them as early as possible before it gets warm outside. Pruning the roses while it is still cool outside will prevent them from wilting immediately after cutting. Place the stems in a clean bucket with fresh water immediately after pruning.
   • Water the rose bush the night before you start pruning. Well-hydrated roses will stay fresh longer than roses that have not been sprayed recently.
   • Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle with clean garden shears.
2. Buy cut roses from a florist you trust. If you're not pruning your own roses, try buying them from a reputable florist - preferably one with whom you have a good relationship. That way, you will be able to purchase roses that have been pruned very recently, instead of those that have been in place for a week.
   • Ask the florist which flowers were delivered that morning and try to select the freshest roses.
   • Choose roses that come from the refrigerator, because roses that have been kept cool will last longer than roses that have been kept at room temperature.
3. Pinch the roses where the leaves are on the stem. This way you can ensure that the roses are fresh. When inspecting the roses before purchase, gently pinch where the leaves are on the stem. If it feels loose and soggy, then the roses are old - ignore them. If it feels firm and tight there, the roses are fresh.
4. Use a spotless vase. If you just rinse the vases between uses, bacteria can live in the vase - this will damage future roses. Clean the vase you plan to use with hot water and soap. Make sure to scrub the inside with a dish brush. Rinse the vase thoroughly before continuing.
5. Keep the roses cool. Roses will stay fresh longer if you put them in a cool place in the house. Do not place them next to sunny windows or rooms where it is warmer. You can even put the flowers in the fridge at night to let them cool down and then put them back on the table during the day.

Tips

• Keep cut flowers away from fruit. Fruit emits a natural gas that causes flowers to wilt.
• If your flowers start to wilt, crush them and add them to your compost. Don't throw them away. This gives the earth extra nutrients.
• Biocide is a substance that kills bacteria. For cut flowers you can buy suitable biocides from florists or garden centers. You can also make biocides yourself, such as 1 milliliter bleach to 1 liter of water, or half a gram of soda to 1 liter of water.

Warnings

• If you're dealing with thorny roses, use gardening gloves to protect your hands and fingers.
• Do not remove the thorns from the roses. If you do, they will die faster.

Necessities

• A vase
• Garden shears
• Water
• Bleach, a penny, or aspirin
• Plant nutrition
• Garden gloves