How to Maintain Cut Roses

In the best of conditions, cut roses last for one week in a vase of water. How long your flowers look fresh has to do with their state when they were cut and with the care you provide afterward. At the flower shop, select roses that have opened slightly but whose petals are still pointing up. Avoid buying roses that have bloomed or were cut too early, while the bud was still tightly closed. At home, there are other things you can do to have fresh-looking roses as long as possible.

Vase
Water
Flower preservative (optional)
Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a clean vase with cold tap water. If available, mix in the water the preservative that florists normally include with cut flowers. Follow the instructions for the correct water-to-preservative ratio.
- 2
  Prune all the leaves that will otherwise be under water.
- 3
  Cut the bottom inch of each stem at a 45-degree angle.
- 4
  Arrange your roses in the vase. Display them in a cool area away from direct sunlight.
- 5
  Check the water every day and remove the roses from the vase whenever it becomes cloudy. Pour the water out, rinse the vase and add more fresh water to it. Prune the bottom inch of the rose stems and place the flowers back in the vase. Discard the flowers as they fade.

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