How To Make Cut Roses Last Longer

It's wonderful to be the recipient of a lovely bouquet of fresh cut roses, and very disheartening when a couple of days later the roses are drooping and dropping their petals.

You can make those cut roses last longer, whether they're cut from your rose bush or received from the florist, with these two tricks.

First, if you cut the roses from your own rose bush, always take a container of water along with you and place the cut roses into the water immediately.

When you get your cut roses indoors, put some water onto to boil. While the water is boiling, gently wrap the rose buds and blooms in heavy brown wrapping paper (the kind used for wrapping and mailing packages). Pour one inch of boiling water into a container that will accommodate the all the rose stems and hold the roses in an upright position. Snip 1/4 inch off the bottom of each rose stem and place the rose stems into the one inch of boiling water and leave them there until the water has reached room temperature.

This boiling water treatment shocks the cut roses and forces all the air out of the rose stems. You will see air bubbles coming from the rose stems when they are placed in the boiling water.

After the water has become room temperature, remove the roses and snip the stem at an angle above where they were at in the water. Place the roses in a vase of fresh water to which 1/2 can of Sprite (not diet) has been added. The angled cut will help the roses absorb water better and the Sprite will feed the roses.

A little boiling water and some Sprite will help your cut roses last longer.