It hardly seems possible, but the holiday season is upon us again! I have been decorating madly after finally finishing my pruning at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden last week. Tonight we will put up the tree. As tomorrow is supposed to be a nice, sunny December day here in north central Connecticut, I’ll go out and finally finish pruning my own gardens. Then it’s on to finishing my shopping and wrapping. In the midst of all this business, I find myself hoping the doorbell will ring and the delivery person will bring me… (spoiler: they’re roses.)

A big, white box tied in red ribbon containing…A Dozen Beautiful Red Roses!!! I love getting roses for Christmas. Plus, with the proper care, they can last for a really long time in the vase. I have seen some gorgeous arrangements at the florist shop and on line with leafy greenery in the water of the vase and the blossom stems exploding from the top. They look so impressive and they cost a fortune. However, within a short time, that foliage in the water will begin to decay and the blooms will fail. It’s a rare occasion when flowers are delivered to me. So I want to be sure to get the most from their beauty. Today I want to share my tips with you to help your beautiful blossoms last.

Arranging Roses

If you have the time, condition your roses overnight and arrange them the next morning. Most of the roses we purchase from the grocery store or the florist shop were cut a couple of weeks ago in South America. They were hydrated, bunched, refrigerated, and then flown here. Upon arrival to the florist, the stems were cut again and in most cases they were kept in a dark refrigerator until they were arranged or delivered. The poor things! No wonder they sometimes fail to open!!!

You can help their plight, and here’s how. Fill a bucket with really warm water; almost hot to your wrist. Then take the stems one at a time and make a diagonal cut with a sharp pair of pruners just above a stem side-bud. If you cut straight across a bud the water uptake may be blocked. Make this cut under water if you like and then plunge the stem of the rose in the bucket of warm water right up to its neck. Repeat with the rest of the blooms and then put the bucket in a cool spot (like a basement) to spend the night.

After

The next morning, start with a squeaky clean vase. Sometimes, I’ll spritz the inside with some alcohol, which will evaporate quickly and kill any bacteria that may be lingering within. For roses, we generally will need a tall vase that can handle a lot of water. Fill that tall vase with very warm water before you begin arranging your bouquet. Why use warm water? Because it is more readily taken up by the blossom’s stem! With your rose delivery, you will notice a packet of fresh flower food. Mix it with the water in the vase until it is dissolved. This stuff will feed the blooms and keep down formation of bacteria so the water will stay fresh.

You will want to re-cut your stems on your freshly conditioned roses before you place them in the vase. I will usually fill a dishpan with more water and then plunge the base of the stem into the water so I can cut it under water. This will prevent an air bubble from blocking water uptake. Before I do this, though, I make sure I pull off all the leaves that would be below the surface of the water. That way, they won’t begin to decay and cause blossom failure. Re-cut your stem and put it in the vase. Do this with each rose and your blooms should last at least a week! If you wish to add the greens which came with your roses, just make sure you strip the foliage that would be under water. And, don’t forget to add fresh water every day.

Troubleshooting

Once in a while, the neck of a rose will droop. Usually, this is caused by an air bubble that gets caught in the rose’s water uptake vessel. Sometimes you can save the bloom by filling a tall, thin vase with very hot water, making a fresh stem cut, and taking a needle and poking a hole in the round part of the bloom just under the petals. When you plunge the stem into the hot water, it will rush up the stem and hopefully push that air bubble right out that hole you poked.

Now it’s time to put your beautiful arrangement of roses on the table. When the evening rolls in, enjoy them with your partner by candlelight with a lovely glass of holiday cheer! Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Kwanza, and Happy New Year to all with love from your Rosarian!