How to Force Open Cut Roses

Fill your sink with lukewarm water. Avoid cold water. Water that is too hot can prematurely wilt cut roses. Stick to water that's room temperature or slightly warmer; a temperature between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit is best.

Submerge the rose stems in the water. Avoid wetting the blooms, which can lead to damage or wilt.

Cut the rose stems underwater between 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the bottom of the stem at about a 45-degree angle. This enhances the uptake of water into the rose stem. Adequate water intake is crucial to forcing open cut rose blooms. Cutting the stems underwater prevents air bubbles from forming within the stem; air bubbles prevent water from traveling through the rose, thereby reducing its life.

Remove the foliage from the blooms. In order to maintain their foliage, cut roses use valuable energy resources that could be better put to use opening the buds.

Fill a vase with warm, room-temperature water.

Add a commercial or homemade rose preservative and food solution to the vase. Plant solutions and foods containing sugars help open cut roses by providing them energy to use in blooming. Common household mixtures include 2 tbsp. lemon juice mixed with 1 tbsp. sugar and 1/4 tsp. bleach diluted in 1 qt. water or 2 tbsp. vinegar combined with 1 tbsp. granulated sugar in 1 gallon of water.

Place the roses in the vase.

Tease open the top of the buds. Pry the petals apart millimeters at a time or tickle the top of the buds with your fingertips. Breathe on the tops of the roses as the warm air encourages blooming. Work gently and slowly to avoid bruising the petals or damaging the buds.