Yahoo Lifestyle 7 Expert-Approved Ways to Make Your Valentine's Day Roses Last Longer
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There's nothing more romantic than receiving a bouquet of fresh roses on Valentine's Day. The sweet floral fragrance and lively red petals make for a charming addition to any home, even if they only last a few days. However, there are a bunch of easy ways to make your Valentine's Day roses last longer this year, according to experts.
"Roses typically have a vase life of about 7-10 days with proper care, though some varieties can last longer," says Justin Lievano, lead floral designer at UrbanStems. "The rule of thumb is typically that English roses or garden roses will be more fragrant but have less longevity, while hybridized roses (the kind you see at most florists and grocery stores) may have less scent but often last a fair bit longer."
Regardless of which type of rose you receive this Valentine's Day, these expert-approved tips will help you keep your flowers looking and smelling fresh through late February. All it takes is a couple minutes each day!
1. Trim the stems at an angle.
This goes for when you first receive your flowers and every time you change the water afterwards (more on that to come). When you're preparing your vase with water for the first time, follow these instructions.
"Grab your favorite floral shears and cut about a quarter-inch off the bottom of the stems to reopen them and keep the flowers hydrated," says Lievano. "Any time you trim rose stems, cut them at an angle! Strong woody stems, like roses, benefit from a 45-degree cut because it increases the surface area through which the stem can absorb water."
2. Make sure your vase is clean.
Once your roses are trimmed, it's important to find them a clean home they can thrive in. While some glass vases are dishwasher-safe, others will need to be hand washed in warm, soapy water. Make sure you thoroughly rinse the vase to prevent soap from harming the roses.
3. Get them in water within a couple hours.
So your roses are trimmed and your vase is clean — now it's time to get your roses in fresh water as soon as possible (after you're done thanking your valentine, of course). Although most flowers can typically last quite a while without water, placing them in fresh water quickly will give them the best chance at longevity.
4. Use flower food.
Give your roses an extra boost with some flower food. The mixture comes in both powder and liquid forms, and you can use it on all sorts of cut flowers.
"Flower food consists of a mixture of antibiotic agents that prevent flower-killing bacteria from growing in the vase water and sugars to feed the blooms," says Lievano. "Be sure to check the mixing instructions. You want to get the proportion of food to water correct to ensure the flower food does its job."
However, Lievano warns against using homemade methods of flower food involving bleach, soda or aspirin, as they don't always provide the best results.
5. Change the water and trim the stems again.
Completely dump and refill the water in your vase at least every other day for the best results. And while you're at it, Lievano recommends following tip #1 again. Make it a habit to swap out the water and trim the stems at the same time every other day.
6. Keep them out of direct sunlight.
Sure, flowers need sunlight, but it's best to keep the roses away from direct sunlight or sources of heat that could damage the petals. "Both will encourage bacterial growth in the vase water, which will age and kill your flowers more quickly," says Lievano.
Instead, make sure your bouquet gets plenty of indirect sunlight in a room temperature environment.
7. Remove wilting petals.
Your roses unfortunately will start to wilt at some point, even if you follow all of these steps. When the time comes, it's best to pick off the wilted petals to keep your bouquet looking as fresh as possible. You should also be rotating your vase so that all of your roses have an opportunity to soak in some light.
Garden Shears
Fresh-Cut Flower Food
Flower Food
Garden Scissors
Clear Glass Flower Vase
Glass Flower Vase
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