Has the "gothic gardener" in you always wanted roses in deep black? It's nearly impossible to get "absolute black", especially with live roses, but that doesn't mean you can't give it a try. With the correct method, whether it's growing dark roses or dyeing them to darken them, you can turn a flower into a night-black petaled rose.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Grow Dark Roses
Step 1. Choose a variety of dark roses
There are no 100% black roses, although passionate growers and genetic engineers are trying to make a variety. However, with the right techniques, you can grow very dark roses with just a hint of red or burgundy. Start by choosing a variety of roses that have dark, velvety petals. Ask the florist for more details or search for one of these varieties yourself:
- "Black Jade" is one of the best known dark roses, but it is quite vulnerable to pests and diseases. It can turn black in hot weather.
- "Black Baccara" is perhaps the one that comes closest to black, but the flowers are small and not very fragrant. Its petals are darker in cold climates.
- "Midnight Blue" is one of the darkest purple roses on the market. It has an unusual clove scent.
- Other varieties available include Nigrette, Black Magic, Black Pearl, Black Ice, Black Beauty, Blackout and Taboo. Before buying any, check the climatic needs and the size of each.
Step 2. Plant your roses in a greenhouse if possible
The exact final color will depend on several factors, such as temperature and light. If you want to get better results and hope for more success, you should plant them in a greenhouse, where you can manage the weather precisely.
- Always inquire about the variety you want to grow, or ask the nursery clerk to provide you with more information about the space, soil and sun exposure needs of your roses.
- In general, when planting roses, you need soil that has good drainage. Also, the pH of the soil should be slightly more acidic or neutral.
- Dig a hole slightly wider than the roots, but just as deep. For a rose bush, this usually means a depth of around 38-46cm and around 46-61cm wide. Once the plant is settled and the hole filled, then add 2.5 to 5cm of mulch and fertilizer.
Step 3. Consider watering with flower dye
Some online sites recommend adding black food coloring to the water you use for watering roses. However, this is not necessarily an effective method, because the roots do not absorb most of the dye in this way. However, if you still want to try, ask the florist to supply you with a specific dye for flowers. Generally, these are more suitable for cut flowers, not for live plants, but this way your roses are less likely to be damaged.
Step 4. Wait until the buds start to appear
When the first buds begin to appear, the plant is still totally concentrating its energies on the growth of the stems; when they then stop their growth and buds begin to sprout, the plant has reached a critical stage of its development. 90% of the pigmentation that will determine the color of the flower is created when the bud reaches ¾ of its final size, but before it opens completely.
If your rose variety blooms multiple times in a season, take note of how the buds develop, mark it on a calendar, and use this to track the development of the next bloom. This final stage of growth typically occurs about two weeks before the flower opens completely
Step 5. Experiment with different temperatures when the buds grow the most
At this stage, the temperature can greatly affect the color. No research has been done for most rose varieties, so you will be a "pioneer". If you can, try to implement different techniques for different buds or groups of buds. Here are some guidelines you can follow to get started:
- Low temperatures tend to increase pigment production - this means roses generally get darker. During an experiment conducted on the Crimson Glory rose, it was possible to obtain a purple flower at a temperature of 23 ° C and a darker red color at 13 ° C. This method seems most effective in the summer.
- Heat stress, in general, tends to wilt the flowers or give a lighter color, close to orange, although there are exceptions; for example, the Baccara rose can take on a deeper blue hue. Be aware, however, that this is a risky technique that can also kill the flower or the entire plant. If you can, ask the florist to help you choose temperatures that can stress the plant without killing it. During a study, the buds of an orange rose were exposed for three days to a day temperature of 39 ° C and a night temperature of 18 ° C.
Step 6. Experiment with enlightenment
During the bud growth phase, keep the Baccara rose in a shaded area for a deeper, deeper blue color. Other varieties, on the other hand, may need sunlight to develop certain pigments. If in doubt, try shading only a few branches and keep the rest of the plant exposed to the sun instead.
Step 7. Protect the open flowers from sunlight
The darker the flower, the more it will absorb the sun's rays. Once the flowers have opened, try to leave them partially in the shade. Alternatively, cut them off and try some of the methods below to make them darker.
Some roses bloom a dark red color in the spring and tend to turn black during the summer. If you are not happy with the look your flowers are taking, you can try exposing them to direct sunlight
Step 8. Prune your plant
Pruning will keep your roses healthy. Pruning it serves to stimulate the growth and development of buds, to remove dead branches and to improve air circulation. Roses are usually pruned during the spring, although it still depends on the variety you are growing.
Method 2 of 3: Darken Cut Roses
Step 1. Start by cutting the dark roses
This method describes how to keep their color and try to make them darker, almost black. The varieties of flowers described above are suitable for this purpose.
- If the flower is only partially open, it retains its color more easily and keeps longer than fully open ones.
- If you are buying roses from a nursery and can't find any dark varieties, choose the ones that have velvety petals. This texture makes the flowers appear darker.
Step 2. Try keeping the flowers in water or a preservative solution
If they are already dark enough, skip this step. However, if they are much lighter than you want, try putting them in water for a few days. The result is often minimal and it can be difficult to tell if this method works, but roses should generally take on a slightly darker and closer to blue color. Water usually gives flowers a darker color than preservatives, but it can also depend on the variety of rose you choose. If you have a lot of roses, try both methods with different flower pots.
- You can find flower preservatives at nurseries and florists. If you want to make a solution at home, you need to combine an acidic substance with sugar to get a similar result.
- For more details on how to store roses in water read this article.
Step 3. Turn the flowers over to dry
Regardless of whether you put the cut flowers in water or not, drying is a process that makes them darker. Hang them upside down in a warm, dry place away from light. It may take two weeks or more before the roses are completely dry.
Step 4. Spray them with flower preservative spray (optional)
Once you have dried the roses, you can spray them with this substance to preserve them for a longer period of time. Direct the nozzle towards the dried flowers following the instructions on the package.
Avoid dusting the flowers before spraying the product, you could damage the petals
Method 3 of 3: Dye the Cut Roses Black
Step 1. Choose the flowers
Generally a white or light colored rose is more suitable. Thanks to a very light base shade, you can get the color you want with less effort. This detail is even more important during the dyeing process, as it would be difficult to make the dye stand out on an already dark pink.
- If you cut the roses yourself, be sure to use disinfected garden shears. The scissors could pinch the stem preventing the flower from absorbing the water and dye.
- Cut the rose at a 45 ° angle, so there will be more absorption surface and more water and dye will penetrate the stem.
Step 2. Choose the color
Although some people have tried putting food coloring in their water, it is safer to use a plant-specific dye. You can buy it online or ask your trusted florist to order it for you.
Step 3. Wait before placing the cut flower in the water
You must wait at least 3 hours after cutting it or after getting it from the florist. If the flowers are a little in pain, they absorb more water and therefore more dye.
Step 4. Prepare the water and dye mixture
Check the product label for the indicated concentration level. If in doubt, put 15ml of flower dye in one liter of warm water. The water should be a little warm, but don't overdo it: the best temperature is around 38 ° C. Mix the two in a heat-resistant container that is large enough to hold your roses.
Add preservative if you want to extend the life of your flowers
Step 5. Leave the roses in the liquid, keeping it at a slightly elevated temperature
Because roses have thick and rather woody stems, it may take several hours (or even a full day) for them to change color. To prevent the flowers from absorbing color only partially or in spots, try to keep the water temperature constantly at 38 ° C. To do this, you need to add more hot water from time to time or place the pot in a slow cooker setting this temperature.
Step 6. Remove the roses
Once they have turned black, you can take them out of the container. Rinse the dye off the stems and transfer them to a regular flowerpot with water.
If the roses are patchy colored, simply leave them in clean warm water overnight to spread the color more evenly
Advice
- Contact experienced botanists and gardeners in your area or at your local university for help. Many of them will be happy to give you advice.
- You can also consider buying flower paints and painting your roses. This does not change the natural color of the petals, but it is a quicker fix.
Warnings
- Do not try to get the roots to absorb any type of paint or fabric dye as it will kill the roses.
- Proceed with caution if you plant roses in direct sunlight. The sun's rays on dark roses could overheat them further.
