Caring for Cut Roses

A beautiful rose bouquet begins with flowers chosen for their distinctive character. Try to arrange them to set off the drama of individual blooms, not the artifice of the arrangement.

Just before we put cut roses in room-temperature water, we cut them a second time with very sharp shears to prolong their freshness. We then strip the stems of any leaves that will fall below the waterline in the vase. This will head off the development of bacteria, which, in turn, can block uptake and shorten the life of an arrangement. Then we add a good quality floral preservative to the water. It's best to use one that contains a bactericide, nutrients, and an acidifying agent that lowers the pH of the water and enhances liquid uptake. We prefer the Chrysal brand cut rose food.