Caring for cut roses. How to make roses last in a vase for as long as possible?

Roses are one of the most popular cut flowers in the world. High-quality, fresh roses can last in a vase for 5 to 14 days, and some varieties even longer.
However, many mistakenly believe that everything depends solely on how fresh the roses are purchased at the flower shop.
In fact, one of the most important factors is home care. Even the highest quality roses can lose their beauty after just a few days or even hours if they are not cared for properly. 
In this article, you will learn how to care for cut roses so that they last as long as possible in a vase.

Photo: Tacitus Archive

1. Prepare a clean vase

Before you put your roses in a vase, wash them thoroughly with warm water and dishwashing liquid. This is not just a matter of aesthetics. Bacteria multiply very quickly in a dirty vase, clogging the rose stems and making it difficult for the rose to absorb water. As a result, the rose may tilt its flower head, even though it is still fresh. That is why a clean vase is one of the most important prerequisites for a long life for flowers.

2. Roses need a lot of water

Roses are one of the thirstiest cut flowers. Unlike some other flowers, roses require a relatively high level of water in the vase. Ideally, fill the vase at least two-thirds full, but even better, fill it to about three-quarters of the way up the stems.

Professional advice: Use clean, fresh water at room temperature or slightly lukewarm.
Florists sometimes advise giving roses warmer water because they are shrubby plants. This approach is often used in professional floristry to help flowers restore their water uptake more quickly after prolonged transportation or storage.
However, in daily care at home, it is much more important than water temperature that the water is clean, in sufficient quantity, and changed regularly.

3. Remove the leaves from the lower part of the stem

Remove any leaves that are below the water level. They encourage the growth of bacteria, which degrades the water quality and reduces the flower's ability to absorb moisture. If there are a lot of leaves, you can leave just the top few. However, it is best to say goodbye to the green leaves altogether, as this helps direct more water to the flower itself.

4. Cut the stems before placing the flowers in the vase

Before placing the rose in water, cut off about 1 to 2 cm from each stem. This is best done with a sharp knife or secateurs, making a slanted cut of about 45 degrees. This increases the surface area through which the rose absorbs water and prevents the stem from completely fitting into the bottom of the vase.

From now on, it is recommended to re-renew the stem cut every time you change the water.

5. Choose a suitable location

The location where you place the vase also has a significant impact on the longevity of roses.
Roses like a cool environment.
Place them:

• away from direct sunlight
• away from radiators and other heating devices
• in a place without strong drafts
• away from the fruit bowl. Many fruits, especially apples and bananas, emit ethylene gas, which accelerates the aging of flowers.

What to do if a rose starts to bend?

If the petals still look fresh but the head is drooping, don't throw the rose away. Most often, this means that the stem is no longer absorbing enough water.

Suggestions on what to do:

• cut about 5 to 10 cm from the stem with a sharp knife or secateurs, making an oblique cut
• remove the leaves that will be under water, and if there are a lot of leaves, you can also remove some of the rest to reduce moisture loss
• wash the vase thoroughly
• fill it with fresh, lukewarm to very warm water
• not necessary, but you can also add flower food  

  (Professional flower food contains ingredients that inhibit the growth of bacteria in the water, provide flowers with additional carbohydrates after cutting, and help maintain the water composition suitable for more efficient water uptake).

Then place the roses in a cool place and give them a few hours. If the problem was insufficient water intake, the rose will often regain its firmness.

Rose care in winter

During the cold season, the biggest risk to roses is not the home environment, but the journey from the flower shop to your home. Cut roses are very sensitive to frost. Even a few minutes in a cold wind or below-freezing temperatures without protective packaging can damage the flowers and leaves. Sometimes the damage only becomes visible after several hours, when the roses are brought into the warmth.

To avoid this, follow a few simple rules:
1. Don't unwrap roses outside.
If the florist has carefully wrapped the roses or bouquet, do not open it until you are indoors. Even brief exposure of the flowers to frost can damage the petals and leaves.

2. Don't leave roses in the car
In winter, the car cools down very quickly to outside temperature. If the bouquet is left in the cold for a long time, it can freeze.
On the other hand, if the car is very warm, that's not ideal either. Rapid temperature fluctuations cause additional stress to the flowers.

3. Let the roses adjust for a few minutes
If it is very cold outside, do not immediately remove the packaging after coming indoors. Let the flowers stand wrapped for a few minutes so that the temperature change is more gradual. Then remove the packaging and place the roses in a prepared vase with fresh water.