How to Take Care of Your Roses

Unless your roses arrive already arranged, quick action when you get them home will keep them fresh longer.

• Using a sharp knife, trim off any leaves that will fall below the water line in the vase. Rotting foliage contaminates the water.
• Submerge the stem in warm water and cut off at least 1 inch. Cutting under water keeps the stem free of air bubbles, which can block the flow of water and nutrients to the flower head and result in bent necks amd prematurely wilted blooms.
• Trim stems at an angle. The angle keeps the stem from standing flat on the vase bottom, which would slow water intake.
• Use water at room temperature.
• Keep fowers away from bright sunlight but also away from air conditioners or drafts.
• At night move flowers to the coolest part of the house - doing so will extend the life of the flowers.

  Almost any container can be used for displaying roses. Just make sure you clean it properly to prevent bacteria from spoiling your flowers.

• To clean, scrub containers with warm soapy water, then rinse with a mild bleach solution. Don't rinse after bleaching; bleach residue helps kill bacteria in the water. Allow the container to air dry.
• Fill the vase one-third to one-half with warm water (about 100 degrees is best) mixed with a commercial flower preservative, which contains blocides and such nutrients as sugar. Mix according to the instructions on the package. Do not use metal containers because the preservatives may react with metal.
• Change the vase water every day or so. If flower heads start to droop before fully blooming, recut the flower stem under warm water, removing at least 1 inch of the stalk.

  To slow the blooming process--or speed it up--follow these tips.

• To keep roses from maturing until you're ready to use them, do what florists do: Cool them down. Trim the stems and place them in a water-and-preservative solution. Then put them in a refrigerator with a temperature range of 34 to 38 degrees and a relative humidity of 85 to 90 percent.
• To make roses open faster, dip the heads in water, then cover in a plastic bag. Trim stems, place in a water-and-preservative solution, then put them in a warm, sunny spot, preferably 82 to 85 degrees, until roses open.

  If you are lucky enough to have your own rose garden, keep these tips in mind when harvesting your homegrown blooms.

• Cut roses in the early morning when temperatures are coolest. Use a sharp knife and cut 1/4-inch above a leaf made of five leaflets. Carry a bucket of warm water with you and immediately place the flower stems into it.
• When trimming thorns, take care not to nick the stem. (Stem wounds allow air bubbles to enter.) Trim the sharp tips only, angling the knife blade away from the stem.