Taking Care of Cut Roses

With Valentine’s Day coming up, thought I’d share a few tips I learned from my brother, who worked at a floral shop one summer.

When your friend/husband/significant other comes home with that fabulous bouquet in hand, here’s a step-by-step of what to do:

1. Kiss them and say thanks.  :)
2. Unwrap the flowers.
3. Find that little packet of plant food and empty it into an appropriately-sized vase/jar/bowl and fill with tepid water (tepid for roses–some plants prefer cold).
4. Run some water in the sink.  Hold the stems under the water and cut them at an angle (so they have more surface area through which to absorb water and nutrients), plunging them immediately into the prepared receptacle after the cut.
5. Once you’ve got them all cut, peel the outer, more yucky- or odd-looking petals off.  These “guard petals” are actually quite necessary to the health of the rose, but once they are safely in a container can be removed.



6. Arrange to your liking.
7. Enjoy!

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