What do i do to make my roses last longer & not fall apart?

Question

I bought some roses today and i don't want them to fall apart in the next couple of days, so i'd like to know is there something i can add in to the water in the vase to make them last longer?...or is there something i can do? Let me know. It would be greatly appritiated!
Thanks!

Answer 1

First, make sure the vase you're using is clean. Then remove all of the leaves that would be in the water. Fill the vase with water. (Studies have shown that it doesn't make a large difference on the temperature of the water). Add floral preservative (which usually comes with the flowers or can be found at walmart or craft stores) to the water and stir. Cut the ends of the stems a half inch and at an angle and put them immediately into the water. (Studies have also shown that if you put them in immediately, it's the same as if you cut them underwater-- so be quick!) If you'd like, store the vase in the fridge overnight (when you won't be looking at them anyway).

The most important thing (I think) is to make sure you repeat this process every two days at least!

Adding sugar, bleach, aspirin, those are all wives' tales. If you keep the stems clean (ie. rid of bacteria) you should get them to last longer.

Answer 2

WOW! A lot of help but seriously......

First, you need to cut the stems UNDER WATER to eliminate an air bubble that will inhibit water flowing upward. SO, fill your kitchen sink with water and fill your vase with water. Place all stems into the water (should be ice water - add ice cubes liberally). Cut each stem individually on an angle, then place your finger over the fresh cut and place the stem into the vase, below the water line, and release your finger. You may have to fill the vase all the way to the top until you have finished cutting your stems. With a straight pin, just below the green collar (below the actual petals), push the pin completely through the stem. This will release any air should a bubble have occured.
Make sure you cut off any leaves or side branches that will be submerged in the water. They will rot quickly and scum up the water.... The reason for the ice cubes is that it will slow the metabolism of the rose opening. Hot water, like someone suggested, will not only kill cells but speed up the opening process, forcing the petals to open and die quickly....

Answer 3

Any material that was left over when the band fell apart was either reused or scrapped altogether. It's a fact that alot of the material ended up on Slash's Snakepit's first album, but there wasn't a record of what riffs and song elements had been written. At the time, the drama between band members was rediculous - so much so that the point wasn't really recording anything beneficial. I'm sure if there were demos recorded, they most likely ended up with Slash and got reused during the early Snakepit era - I can't imagine him using G'n'R leftover material for much longer than that. As far as lyrics go, whatever material they had was most likely just instrumental. Axl didn't contribute much to the band other than drama after Izzy left and if any of the other member wrote lyrics they were most likely scrapped.

Answer 4

Get some of the hottest water you can stick your hands in from the faucet...then submerge the stems of the roses in the water and cut them under the water...let the water cool and then you can change the water or let it be in the same water


what is happening...the hot water opens up the pores of the stem of the rose..when you cut the stem...it will suck water up into the steam without sucking up air..which will prevent the flow of water up into the rose...this will make them last longer..

some people also put an aspirin in the water but i dont know about that one

Answer 5

Ok, when it comes to cut flowers there's a lot of good advice and a lot of wives' tales floating around. I am a plant pathologist and have been the quality control manager of a flower importing company for over 13 years. This is what you need to do and why:

1- Buy flowers at a reputable source, don't buy them from somebody selling them at a traffic light or they will likely be old, stressed flowers.

2- Process them as soon as you bring them home, don't leave them in the car or sitting on the counter for hours.

3- Remove any brown or bruised petals; if there are any brown mushy spots it is most likely Botrytis, which is a fungus that will rot the flower. However if it is removed when the spot is still small your flowers will be ok.

4- Use a very clean vase that has been washed thoroughly; if it is not clean enough for you to drink from it, then neither should your flowers. The number one reason why roses get "bent necks" is actually from getting the stems plugged by bacteria (more than air)

5- You can use cold water or luke warm water but NEVER hot water, this will only stress the flowers and reduce their vase life.

6- Use commercial flower food in the water if available and make sure you follow the instructions as to the amount of water to be used. Most of the little bags that come with bouquets are either for ONE PINT or if they are larger, for one Quart of water. You have to use all the flower food that comes in the packet. If you use less food or too much water, you will not have enough bactericide in the water and bacteria will develop reducing the vase life.

7- Remove any leaves that will be covered by water as these rot and contaminate the water. Do not remove more than it is needed, roses especially need their leaves to be able to draw water from the stem ends. The leaves act as a water pump; as water is evaporated from the leaves, water is pulled up through the stem.

8- Cut 1-2 inches from the stem ends (no less than one inch) this will remove the blockage of bacteria, air and plant cells plugging the stems. It has been advised for many years to cut them under water. This is true, the stems form a vacuum inside, and when cut they suck air. The air will plug them for a while and can prevent water absorption, but it has been shown that the air bubble dissolves in a few hours if stems are placed in water right away. I would still recommend cutting them under water (just fill the sink) as long as the water is perfectly clean. The most important thing is to cut them with a very sharp knife or sharp shears that will not crush or damage the stems and put them in the vase with water or solution right away.

9- Do not pierce the stem higher up as it was suggested, the vessels inside the stem are only one or two inches long, the air bubble remains on the bottom of the stem. Florists use this green wire to forcibly keep the heads from bending, but as long as you follow the previous advice this should not happen.

10- Put your flowers in a fresh area away from direct sunlight or heat from appliances (like from the TV) and away from air drafts (like in front of the AC vent).

11- If you re-cut the stems use fresh flower food solution to refill the vase.

If you do not have flower food you can make your own. It does not work as well as commercial ones, but it works better than plain water. Flower food is made of the following:
a- SUGAR: to feed the flowers (once cut from the plant they cannot produce their own food anymore.
b- BACTERICIDE: to kill bacteria in the water. If you add sugar without adding a bactericide you will have bacterial soup.
c- ACIDIFIER: water flows better up the stem at a low ph, flower food contains citric acid or other substances to make the water acidic. Bacteria do not reproduce as much in an acidic environment either.
d- SURFACTANT: something that reduces the water tension of the water so that it flows better (a kind of soap).

So to make your own, you can use one part of a lemon-flavored soda like Sprite, 7-UP, Sierra Mist etc (it has to be regular, it cannot be diet) and two parts water. This will provide the sugar and acidity your flowers need. However you need to kill the bacteria or it will be worse than using water alone. You need to add 3-5 DROPS (not a squirt) of Clorox to the water depending on the size of your vase. Mix it up before putting the flowers in it.
Make a fresh solution when you re-fill the vase.

As far as the aspirin goes, it helps a little because it acidifies the water, but you are still missing the key ingredients; sugar and a bactericide.

It looks complicated but it is not, just use clean...- everything!

Enjoy!!

Answer 6

Trim the end of the rose at an angle so that it can take in fresh water, I have also heard that if you put a little bit of sugar, Real Sugar, in the water than it also preserves the roses.

Martha Stewart says that a Drop of bleach in the water preserves the roses either, but don't do more than a drop or they will be dead in minutes.

Good Luck

Answer 7

I've heard you can put a crushed aspirin in the water. Before the petals start dropping off, hang them upside down and let them dry. Once they're completely dried, you can put them back in the vase without the water and enjoy them for as long as you want.

Answer 8

Cut stems at an angle and but them in cold water with aspirin, trim a little everyday they could last until they bloom

Answer 9

put them in a vase of seven up. and make sure you cut the bottom of them on an angle-fresh cut each day.

Answer 10

I have heard putting small amount of sugar and red food coloring helps them last longer. Otherwise go and buy some plant food.