How to Prolong the Life of Your Cut Roses

Properly treated, cut roses should last from 7-14 days.

Below are some tips to keep your cut roses looking fresh and beautiful for as long as possible.

1. Avoid putting your vase of roses in direct sunlight
2. Avoid temperatures above 70^o F
3. Avoid water containing salt (softened water) or fluorinated water.
4. Do not put your cut roses in steel or iron containers.
5. Keep your vase two thirds full of water
6. If your vase is too tall, use pebbles in the base so the foliage is above the water line.
7. When placing roses in a vase, use lukewarm water.
8. Replace old water with new water every few days.
9. A homemade or commercially prepared preservative will extend the life of your cut flowers.
10. When cutting stems, do not use scissors.  Use by-pass shears that do not crush the stems.
11. Re-cut 1/2" to 1" off the bottoms of the stems every 2-4 days. Hold the stem ends under water and make your cut at a 45^o angle. This can prevent an air bubble from clogging the stem and preventing the uptake of water.
12. If your cut roses are not delivered or purchased in a vase, be sure to re-cut the stems (see #11) prior to putting them in your vase.
13. When first arranging your roses, remove no more than 1/3 of the lower leaves. You don't want leaves sitting in the water but you do want to keep as many leaves as possible (at least 2/3).