Roses from your garden are perfect for interior decoration or to give to someone special. However, to make them last as long as possible, you need to cut them in the right way to prevent bacteria from attacking them during and after cutting.
Steps
Step 1. Clean the vase you will use for the roses
To extend the life of the flowers, make sure the vase is as clean as possible and that there are no bacteria that could kill the roses prematurely. Usually, it is sufficient to clean with warm water and a mild detergent, but if the vase is very dirty, or if the flowers it had previously housed were sick, it is preferable to use bleach. Rub the inside of the jar with a bottlebrush and immerse it in the water.
If the pot is dishwasher safe, wash it on a normal cycle. But first, make sure the pot can handle high temperatures
Step 2. Clean the scissors
Garden scissors will be the first thing that comes into contact with the delicate inner portions of the freshly cut stems, therefore, it is essential to carefully clean them of dirt and bacteria. Sterilize the scissors with a rag dipped in a small amount of bleach and alcohol, then rinse with warm running water.
Step 3. Choose the right roses
Roses last longer if cut immediately after budding, when the petals begin to open. Rose varieties with many petals, such as "Moonstone", should be cut in the most advanced bud stage, while those with fewer petals, such as "Silverado", should be cut shortly before the bud stage.
Step 4. Water the roses
If possible, decide the evening before cutting the roses the next day. The same evening, water the bush carefully, soaking the earth completely so that you give the roses plenty to drink. The more water the roses absorb before they are cut, the longer they will last.
Step 5. Cut the roses early in the morning
Cut it from dawn and before 10 am; later in fact, it will start to get too hot. The heat and the sun deprive the flowers of nutrients, drying them out and making them weaker. Especially on hot days, try to cut the roses very early in the morning.
Alternatively, you can also cut them in the evening. If you water the roses in the morning, or if they have received a lot of morning dew, you can also cut them in the evening when the temperatures start to drop to allow the flowers to rest
Step 6. Cut the roses to remove them from the bush
With clean scissors, cut the stems at an angle of about 45 degrees. The angled cut prevents the flowers from lying flat on the base of the vase; this position could prevent them from drinking the water, causing them to die prematurely. Trim the stems near the base so that you have a long portion to resize later.
Step 7. Move the cut roses to a bucket of hot water
You don't need to put them in the pot, instead use a bucket with an opening large enough to allow you to work inside. If you need to cut other parts of the flower, do it directly in the bucket of water to prevent the formation of air bubbles or embolism inside the stem.
Step 8. Cut the leaves below the water level
Bacteria and rot tend to accumulate in the leaves when immersed in water. Leave the leaves intact above the water level (approximately up to half / one third from the top), otherwise the roses will not be able to draw water.
Step 9. Cut a second time
Make an angled cut underwater, similar to the first one. This cut will determine the final length of the stems and the final height of the roses. Temporarily remove the flowers from the bucket and measure them against the side of the vase to choose the exact place to cut. Once you have chosen the spot, put the flowers back in the bucket and cut them under water.
Step 10. Fill the pot with water and plant fertilizer
Put some hot water. You can choose whether to buy a ready-made fertilizer or prepare one at home by mixing 15 ml of vinegar, 5 g of sugar and 3-5 drops of bleach for each liter of water. Bleach is very useful for preventing harmful bacteria from attacking freshly cut roses. Mix the fertilizer carefully before giving it to the roses.
Step 11. Let the roses rest in the treated water for an hour
Transfer the roses to the vase and place it in a cool, dark room to allow the water to nourish the flowers thoroughly. But be careful not to get the buds wet too.
Step 12. Move the roses to the refrigerator
Roses must cool to a temperature of around 3 ° C for at least two hours or until before displaying / giving them away.
Step 13. Change the water often
If possible, change the water every day to eliminate the bacteria in the roses. Frequent water changes help make roses last longer.
