How can I help my cut roses live longer?

Question

I received roses for Valentines day and want them to last as long as possible. Is there anything I can add to the water that will help?

Answer 1

well u can add crushed up asprins just as everyone else has added. You can also add bleach. Yeah i know it sounds really weird but add a teaspoon of bleach for every cup and a half of water. Change the water EVERYDAY.. thats the most important part. and also cut the bottom of the flowers at an angle with a knife. You do this (cut the ends)about every other day. the way to tell would be to look at the bottom and see if they are still a vibrant green then dont cut them. If they are a dull green cut them about a 1/4 inch above the end.
Hope your flowers stay healthy.

Answer 2

Make sure you change the water daily.
Do not allow any side leaves touch the water. Cut them off to just above the water line or higher.
Cut the stems on a slant, under water. VERY important!!
Take a straight pin and about 1/2 inch from the top, pierce the stem with the pin making sure it goes all the way through from one side to the other. This is done to release any air caused by air bubbles. The air finds its way to the top just below the flower and once there does not allow water to the bud. Use ice cubes in the water. This keeps the flower constricted longer.
Keep out of full sun....

Answer 3

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 in a street corner 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 luck 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 sheers 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- Re-cut the stems every 3-4 days and 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 4

Same as what first poster said aspirin..I also heard a small amount of honey or maple syrup at bottom prolongs life...Interesting question with so many wondering the same thing after Valentines day :) Also keeping them away from cold and direct contact with heat ..make sure no heat duct is blowing on them.

Answer 5

I also heard that adding a few drops of bleach to the water helps to keep cut flowers looking fresh longer.

Answer 6

Yes, the florist will usually send something along for you to add to the vase/water . . if not . . . put a penny and/or an aspirin in the water/vase . . and keep the water level up. . .. wish I'd gotten roses . ..

Answer 7

Change water daily. Add lukewarm water with a little sugar mixed in.

Answer 8

cut the stems at an angle to increase surface area for absorption, add half of a children's aspirin to fresh water each day, and they will stay beautiful, for days to come.

Answer 9

don't use plain tap water, it contains so much chlorine and other chemicals it will kill them faster, use warm bottled drinking water or warm filtered water from your tap...if the water gets murky empty it, clean the vase, trim the ends of the roses to allow them to drink and rearrange

Answer 10

if you haven't already, trim them a little more off the bottom. It will help them absorb the water and stay fresh longer.