How to Make Roses Open

Make Cut Roses Open Up

• 1

  Cut the rose stem on a diagonal and immediately submerge the fresh cut stem into lukewarm water that has a plant or floral preservative mixed in it. Make your own floral preservative if your florist did not provide one. A small amount (about 1/8 cup) of lemon-lime soda and a tbsp. of sugar dissolved in lukewarm water is a good substitute floral preservative.

• 2

  Move the rose to a location with sunlight until the bloom process starts. Be sure not to expose the rose to too much heat in the process. Once the bud has started to open up, move the rose back out of direct sunlight.

• 3

  Use a trick many florists use on fresh cut bud stems. After completing directions stated in Steps 1 and 2, florists sometimes dip the heads of the buds in water. Then, place the entire head of the rose in a plastic bag and move to a sunny location until the rose blooms or the bud begins to open.

Make Growing or Uncut Roses Open

• 4

  Check your rose bush to see if it is standing in water that hasn't drained properly. Redirecting water flow or less watering may be needed to help the growing and blooming conditions of your rose bush.

• 5

  Look carefully at your rose bush to see if there are any signs of disease, fungus or insects. If so, take a sampling of your rose to your garden specialist to purchase the appropriate fungicides or pest control to correct the problem. Blooms should start appearing after the plant has become healthy again.

• 6

  Check the soil for the proper pH levels if your rose buds have still not opened. If the pH levels are too high or too low the rose bush may not be able to intake the appropriate nutrients from the soil and fertilizers to produce buds that will open or bloom properly. Have your garden soil tested by your garden specialists for pH levels.