A pair of shears or scissors with a smaller head are best for reaching into thick bushes. As opposed to flat blades, curved blades tend to make the cleanest cuts. Some pairs of scissors and shears have a “cut and hold” feature that holds onto the stems when they’re cut so they don’t fall to the ground. Clean the blades often with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
If you can’t cut the flowers in the morning, late evening is the 2nd best time for cutting.
The number of petals a rose variety has can affect which blooms you cut. For example, roses with more petals, like the Moonstone or St. Patrick types, can be cut at a more open stage. If you aren’t sure which variety you have, ask your local nursery or look at a gardening book or website. [4] X Research source
Cut stems from the front of the bush. The stems in the back haven’t been exposed to as much sunlight, so they’re usually weaker.
The water level in the bucket should not be so high that it gets the flowers wet. Only the stems should be wet. You can buy buckets specifically for flowers at a garden store, nursery, or online retailer. If you’ve used the bucket before, make sure you thoroughly clean and sanitize it with soap and water before placing the roses inside.
Run your vase on a normal cycle in the dishwasher if it’s dishwasher-safe.
Don’t remove all of the upper leaves, though. Otherwise, the roses won’t be able to pull water up the stem. If you notice any leaves drop into the water while you’re arranging the stems, fish them out immediately so they don’t dirty the water.
Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle, just like you did when you trimmed them from the bush. If you need to make the roses shorter to fit the vase, it’s okay to cut the stems more than 1 inch (2. 5 cm). You can wear a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands from the thorns on the stems.
Don’t overcrowd the roses in a small vase. They’ll wilt faster because they won’t get enough water. If you want to extend the life of your cut roses, sprinkle plant food into the water. You can buy premade plant food at a garden store, or make your own at home.
Placing the roses in the refrigerator when you aren’t displaying them, like overnight, will help them last longer. Avoid putting roses near fruits or vegetables that are ripening. The produce emits ethylene gas, which ages cut flowers.
Don’t use softened water. It contains salt, which is bad for the roses. If the water turns cloudy, change it immediately. When you change the water, don’t forget to put more plant food in the vase, too.
Make sure your scissors or pruners are clean before you cut the stems. If you can’t cut the stems underwater in the vase, pull them out to trim them. Just return them to the water immediately after cutting them so they don’t dry out.
