Roses look stunning whether they’re displayed on their own or added to a bouquet with other flowers. But these gorgeous cut flowers can quickly start to look a little sad and droopy unless you know how to keep roses fresh in a vase of water longer. Extend the life of your bouquet of roses with the following easy tips, plus you'll find a few home remedies you can skip.
1. Prep Your Vase
To make cut roses last as long as possible, two of the most important keys are avoiding bacterial growth and making sure the stems can soak up as much water as possible. Start with a clean vase, free of any leftover grime from your last floral arrangement (wash the vase with soap and water just to get rid of any lingering bacteria).
2. Trim Your Roses
For the roses, trim the stems at a 45-degree angle. An angled cut exposes more of the stem to the water than a straight trim, which will help the flowers soak up as much water as possible. Make sure to use clean pruning shears, kitchen scissors, or flower snips to make your cuts.
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While you’re trimming the roses, be sure to remove any leaves along the stem that will fall below the water line in the vase. Any leaves that are submerged or get wet are a welcome place for bacteria to grow, which can end up shortening the lifespan of your roses.
However, it’s better to leave the thorns intact if you can. They won’t deteriorate in water like the leaves will, and cutting off the thorns can actually damage the stems and make it more likely for bacteria to grow.
3. Use Room Temp Water and Plant Food
As you’re filling the vase, use water that’s about room temperature–too hot or too cold can shock the roses as you add them to the vase. Most bouquets will also come with a packet of flower food, which you’ll want to add to the water. Many flower food packets are just a mix of sugar (which helps the blooms and buds open up), citric acid (helps prevent bacterial growth in the water), and a biocide like bleach (which also helps disinfect the water and prevent bacteria).
Usually, the flower food packet will have instructions on how to use it, and how much to use. Add the recommended amount to the water to your vase and stir in the flower food powder to help it dissolve. Then add the roses to the water.
If you don't have flower food, try mixing a little mouthwash into the water to help reduce bacterial growth.
4. Refrigerate Your Roses
One somewhat surprising trick to help your roses last longer is to refrigerate the cut flowers. Just place the entire vase in your fridge before you go to bed, and take them out in the morning. As long as the temperature doesn’t dip below 32°F, the cool air helps preserve the petals by slowing down their natural aging process.
5. Change Water Regularly
Empty the vase and completely change out the water every two or three days (sooner if it starts looking cloudy or murky), and stir in more flower food each time you refill the water. It's a good idea to retrim the stems when you change the water too–a fresh cut will make it easier for the stem to absorb water.
6. Avoid Direct Sunlight and Extreme Temperatures
Though roses love sun when they’re growing in a garden, keep your cut bouquet out of direct sunlight. Sun can damage and dry out your roses, leading to faster wilting. In general, keep the arrangement away from extreme temperatures, which can wilt the blooms. This includes placing the vase away from windows in the winter (any cold drafts might harm the blooms), and away from vents that might blow hot or cold air directly on the flowers.
7. Keep Roses Away from Apples and Bananas
Both apples and bananas produce a lot of ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening in fruits and flowers. So make sure to park your vase far away from your fruit bowl. This also applies if some roses in your bouquet begin to wilt because they also start producing more ethylene gas that can cause nearby flowers to wilt faster. Quickly remove any wilted blooms to help the remaining stems stay fresh longer.
Tricks to Skip
You may have heard that crushing up aspirin, adding vodka, or placing a penny in the water can help your roses last longer. While doing so isn't likely to harm your bouquet, there’s not much evidence to suggest that they’ll make a big difference in extending the life of your roses, either.
The thinking behind these methods is that they’ll prevent bacterial growth, but a mixture of water and flower food will do that without needing any extra additions. That being said, if you find a trick that works for your roses, go for it. But the most important things you can do to keep your rose centerpiece fresh are prepping the flowers and vase properly, and refreshing the water regularly to discourage bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can cut roses last?
Typically, cut roses can last for about a week in water, but you might be able to extend their life up to 10 days or even two weeks for some varieties when you provide ideal conditions.
What's the best way to preserve cut roses?
Dry your cut roses and other flowers by hanging them upside down in a cool, dry location for about a week to 10 days. Or if you have smaller spray roses, try pressing them between sheets of paper under a heavy book or two for about 2 weeks.
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