If properly cut, roses from your garden can make a beautiful room decoration or gift. When cutting and handling roses, you must be extra careful so that bacteria do not attack freshly cut roses.
Step
Step 1. Clean the flower vase where you will store the roses
In order to prolong the life of your roses, you must ensure that the storage area for the roses you are going to use is cleaned and free of bacteria. Bad bacteria can "kill" your roses quickly. Generally, scrubbing the vase with warm water and a mild detergent will suffice to kill any adhering bacteria, but if you're concerned about the cleanliness of the vase (or if the rose you cut turns out to be diseased), use a bleach solution to clean the vase. Scrub the inside of the vase with a bottle brush, then soak the vase.
If the vase you are using can be washed in the dishwasher, you can also put it in a regular dishwasher. However, not all vases can be washed in the dishwasher
Step 2. Clean the garden shears that you will use
Garden shears are the first pieces of equipment to hit a rose directly. Therefore, you must ensure that the surface of the scissors is clean and free of bacteria. Wipe the scissors with a cloth dampened with bleach or alcohol, then rinse the scissors with hot water.
Step 3. Choose the right rose
Roses will last longer if cut right after blooming, when the petals begin to open. Rose varieties with multiple petals, such as Moonstone, should be cut off when the petals have fully opened, while varieties with rarer petals, such as Silverado, should be cut off when the petals have just opened.
Step 4. Water your roses
If possible, know when to cut roses the night before, then water the plant the night before cutting to give the roses adequate water. The more water the rose absorbs, the longer the rose you cut will last.
Step 5. Cut the roses in the morning, around 05:00 to 10:00
The later in the day you cut the roses, the drier it will be outside. Dry and hot weather will make the roses dry out and weaken more quickly. When the weather is hot, cut the roses as early as possible.
You can also cut the roses in the afternoon. If your roses are watered in the morning, or if your roses are exposed to morning dew, you can trim the roses in the afternoon or evening. At night, the temperature will drop, and the roses will be able to heal themselves
Step 6. Cut the roses from the clumps
Use garden shears to cut the roses at an angle of about 45 degrees. This way, the rose stem won't stand up straight and absorb too much water, and the rose will live longer. Cut the stems of the roses as long as possible so you can arrange them easily.
Step 7. Transfer the cut roses to a bucket of warm water
You don't need to immediately transfer the roses to the vase. Instead, use a bucket or other container that makes it easier for you to hold the roses. Cut the roses in this bucket so that the rose branches are not filled with air bubbles.
Step 8. Cut the leaves above the waterline
Bacteria and fungi can grow on leaves exposed to water. However, you should leave some leaves on the rose stem, ranging from half the stem to one third of the stem. If a rose has no leaves, it cannot absorb water.
Step 9. Make a second cut underwater, just like the first
This second cut will determine the final size of the stem, and the final height of the rose. Remove the rose from the water for a moment, then measure the rose to the depth of the vase to determine the final size. After determining the size, return the rose to the water, then cut the rose from the water.
Fill the vase with warm water and fertilizer. You can use a ready-made rose fertilizer, or make your own fertilizer by mixing 15 ml of vinegar, 5 ml of sugar and 3-5 drops of bleach to 1 liter of water. Bleach is useful for preventing harmful bacteria on roses. Dissolve the fertilizer before placing the roses in the vase.
Step 1. Transfer the roses to a vase, then leave the roses in the water for an hour
Place the roses in a cool, dark room so that the nutrients and water can be absorbed by the roses. However, do not let the petals come into contact with water.
Step 2. Transfer the roses to a refrigerator at 3 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least two hours before displaying or serving
Step 3. Change the water in the vase regularly to remove bacteria on the roses
This way, the roses will last longer.
