How to Dye Rainbow Roses

Prepare your dyes. Determine which four colors of the rainbow you'd like your roses to be. Prepare each glass with warm water, flower preservative and a single color of systemic dye. Follow the manufacturer's directions regarding the ratio of preservative to water and dye to water. Mix each color thoroughly and cluster all four glasses together where they can sit undisturbed while your flower is dyeing for 24 to 48 hours.

Prepare the rose. Select a rose with a long stem. Make a diagonal cut approximately 1/2 inch off the bottom with the utility knife. A diagonal cut allows for more surface area to be exposed to the dye, better facilitating dye absorption. Carefully make a 3- to 4-inch slice parallel with the stem, splitting the bottom portion of the stem in half. Slice each of these halves in half again, so the last 3 to 4 inches of your flower stem is split into four sections.

Place the flower into the dyes. Very gently separate the four sections of stem and place them into the glasses of dye. Allow the flower to absorb the dye for at least 24 hours. When you've achieved the color vividness you desire, remove the flower stem from the dyes, cut off the cut ends and immediately place it in fresh water with flower preservative.