Caring for Cut Roses

Counterintuitive Tips Will Help You Get the Most Out of Them

Bouquets of magnificent roses always brighten any room. We would like them to last forever, but alas, that's not to be. So how can we encourage them to share their beauty for as long as possible?

Here are a number of surprising tips shared by Rosarian Iliana Okum at the recent Garden Club of New Jersey, District 7, meeting held at Nottingham Garden Club.

She's a member of the American Rose Society and the West Trenton Garden Club.

Use the tips to lengthen the roses' life in the vase.

First, if they've been boxed, cut off one inch of the stem from the bottom. Then put them in a vase with really warm water halfway up the stems.

If the stems contract "sleepy neck," really hot water is the solution. Cut off one-inch of the stems while holding them under the water. Then let all the roses float in the really hot water for 20 minutes. Then transfer back to a vase filled with more really hot water. Following this procedure should revive them to their original beauty.

These and other tips are included in a handy guide shared by Iliana, shown below. Click HERE to review all the tips, download a copy to your smart phone or to print.