Make Your Fresh Cut Roses Last Longer!

Women adore getting flowers, most especially roses, as it is a symbol of love and affection. Price of roses vary from state to state and flower shop to flower shop. Regardless, it is an investment that you want to have last as long as possible. So here are some steps you can take to ensure they last

1) If you have roses and greens wrapped and you want to arrange them in a vase, the first step is to get a bowl of warm water, and with a sharp knife slice the ends slantwise under water. You do it this way for two reasons. 1) Cutting slantwise ensures that the opening is big enough to draw water, as they drink a lot, and 2) cutting under water ensures that the cut end doesn't get an air pocket blocking them from drinking.

2) For best results put them in a vase of warm water and a package of flower food and if possible refrigerate for 2 hours. You'll want them to drink well. Note, if you don't have flower food, you can use a spoon of sugar and a few drops of bleach. The bleach will kill bacteria in the water.

3) Before you place your roses in a vase, Take each rose stem and take off the leaves that may be below the water line, but don't take them all off because the greens contribute to the overall look of the arrangement.

4) Now the next step goes against what most florists will tell you. If at all possible, if the thorns are not too big, I suggest you do not take them off. The reason for this is that it causes the rose stem to be wounded. This leaves them open to bacteria and they'll wilt quicker. If you have to take some of them off then take your thumb, put it on the side of the thorn and pop it off. This is the least invasive way to get them off.

5) Change the water daily.

6) If an arrangement has arrived to you already made, then you need to change the water daily, feed them and do a fresh cut on the bottom. Check to see if any leaves are below the water line and remove.

Follow these simple steps and you'll enjoy your roses much longer.

On another note; if you are allergic to flowers (or even if your not) it is nice to give yourself a floral motivational poster. You'll still have a visual of flowers.

I hope this helps. Enjoy!

Willie Jones

Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far. Please come and visit us at: http://www.artinspires.com/for an inspirational poster or two

"Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing. All winners receive a free framed print."

In The News:


Get Outdoors: Gardening Calendar
Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL - 6 hours ago
LARGO – A Landscape Design Clinic, part of the Florida-friendly Landscaping Series, will be offered on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6:30 to 9 pm, at Pinellas County ...

A garden and a park threatened
Christian Science Monitor, MA - 19 hours ago
Some of the most popular articles on the Monitor’s gardening site recently have been about edible landscaping and the increase in home gardens. ...

Fall gardening workshops set by Lee Co. Extension
Amboy News, IL - 2 hours ago
30, discussion will focus on low maintenance, hardy evergreens that can be added to landscaping such as yews, hemlocks and arborvitaes. ...

Landscaping with love for the Chesapeake Bay
Baltimore Sun, United States - Sep 4, 2008
... and requires nontraditional gardening techniques. Fourteen other Maryland counties and Baltimore City offer certification in Bay-Wise landscaping, ...

Garden events coming up for Sept. 5
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 29 minutes ago
Sale of native plants, plus info on sustainable landscaping, water and soil conversation, rain barrels and gardening with natives. Free. Call 954-970-0150. ...

Landscape construction class offers students a hands-on gardening ...
StarNewsOnline.com, NC - Aug 29, 2008
Some of them will complete two semesters and hope to earn State Certification in Landscape Gardening or State Certification in Retention Pond Management (an ...

The beauty of art and nature come together in Bisbee
Arizona Republic, AZ - 4 hours ago
Each garden has its own character, such as vegetable beds, high-desert landscaping, fruit trees, deciduous trees, flowering plants and water features. ...

The Landscape Design Site.com Adds More Design Plans, Landscaping ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 23 hours ago
With the addition of new pictures and videos directories, the site has become a popular resource for landscaping and garden design ideas. ...

GARDENING Q&A
Richmond Times Dispatch, VA - 1 hour ago
Q:We recently built our retirement home and have quite a bit of landscaping to do. We live in South Boston now but lived in Richmond for 10 years. ...

CSUN-al Gardening Offers a 'Walk' Among the Trees
San Fernando Valley Sun, ca - Sep 3, 2008
Trees are often themost dominant and long-lasting feature in an urban landscape. Choosing the right one for your yard and neighborhood can seem like a ...
landscaping gardening - Google News

Teak Furniture: The Premier Outdoor Furniture

When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More

How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank

Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying,... Read More

Imagine Your Own Orchid Garden In A Pond

Who doesn't love to hear the water rushing and flowing... Read More

5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Cant Live Without

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More

When to Plant Vegetaibles

Planting times for vegetables and other annual plants vary from... Read More

The Tools of Rose Gardening

Like any job you tackle, it's always easier if you... Read More

A Teak Chair - Create a Livable Outdoor Space with One

When creating a comfortable, usable outdoor space, nothing could me... Read More

How and When to Plant Roses

When spring comes and the ground is thawed, it is... Read More

Garden Statuary - Time for a Fresh New Look

Spring is coming, and now is the time to get... Read More

Hummingbirds ? Attracting Those Little Flying Powerhouses

It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so... Read More

Mosquito Farms? Is That What Water Gardens Are?

What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The... Read More

Want a Garden but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics Gardening could be for You

Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants... Read More

How to Control Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is found throughout southern Canada and most of... Read More

Blue Wild Flowers for Your Garden

Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More

Perfume Your Garden and Home with Gardenias

One of my favorite plants is the large white-flowered Mystery... Read More

How to for Lawns ? Mowing

How often you mow your lawn will depend on a... Read More

Early Spring Garden Guide: What To Do In The Yard And Garden Now

Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this... Read More

Can Your Sundial Really Tell The Time?

"I am a sundial, and I make a botch Of... Read More

Moss on Lawns

Just about right now, we start to see moss on... Read More

The Advantages of Both a Liner Pond and a Preformed Pond, Rolled Up Into One Box!

INTRODUCTIONSo you've decided to build your very own backyard water... Read More

Making Memories with Flower Gardening

Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can... Read More

Wooden Greenhouses

An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse... Read More

How to Grow Hydrangeas

Whether you call them Hydrangea Macrophylla, House Hydrangea, French Hydrangea,,... Read More

A Garden Bench: A Beautiful Addition To Any Garden

Okay, so you have spent hours upon hours creating the... Read More

Wind Chimes Go Great With Gardening

What could be more relaxing than gardening on a nice... Read More