When your discount roses arrive from our rose suppliers they will have been without water during shipment so it is important that you get them into water as soon as possible. Even if you do not have time to arrange them in the desired vase right away, it's important to place them into some container of water until you can get to them.
Then: Find a vase that's tall enough and wash it thoroughly and then rinse well. This seems simplistic, but a clean vase or container really does contribute to a longer-lasting bouquet.
Fill the vase about one-half full with lukewarm (never cold) water.
Mix the little packet of floral preservative that came with the flowers with the water. (It should be labeled "flower food.") If your flowers didn't come with any, make your own. Here's some simple formulas:
Mix 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon liquid bleach (Clorox), and 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice into 2 quarts of lukewarm water.
To 1 gallon of water, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
Combine equal parts of lemon-lime soft drink (not diet) and water.
Flowers in a preservative solution will last about twice as long as those in plain water."
Next, Remove all leaves and foliage from the portion of the stems that will rest beneath the water.....Re-cut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife [or a sharp pair of pruners, if you have them], being careful not to crush the stems. This will ensure better water absorption.
I cut 1/2 inch to 3/4 of an inch off the base of the stems and do it at a 45-degree angle. The angle is important, because it means the bottoms of the stems won't be sitting straight against the bottom of the vase, blocking water uptake.
Any cut flower arrangement will last longer if it's kept cool. Place it where it won't be exposed to direct sun, heat from appliances or electric lights, or hot or cold drafts. If possible, move it to a cool spot...at night. Both heat and moving air take moisture from the flowers at an accelerated rate.
On the other hand, if your fresh cut roses are in tight buds and you want them to open more quickly, place the vase in a warm room till they do, then move the vase back to a cooler spot to extend their lives.
Add more water daily to keep the level high. If you can, it's a good idea to change the water every third or fourth day, replacing the old water with fresh (and more floral preservative).
What happens if you carefully follow all this advice and your roses wilt, or hang their necks? Wilted roses may be revived by re-cutting the stem under water. Then submerge the entire rose in warm water by laying it in a sink or bathtub. After 20 to 60 minutes, the rose should have absorbed enough water to reinvigorate it. Roses in tight bud, which are severely wilted at the neck, may not revive.
