Now that Valentine's Day has come and gone, many people are enjoying a lovely bouquet! Since roses are the most popular Valentine's Day flower, I thought I'd assemble a few ideas here for ways to keep them around longer, whether that's keeping them lovely and fresh in the vase or finding another use for them as they start to pass their prime as a cut bouquet.
To keep your roses looking fresh longer, follow these basic steps (more in-depth instructions are available on Teleflora.com):
Check the water level daily and add more if it's decreased more than an inch or two - even if your bouquet is set in floral foam
Recut the stems of the roses every 3 or 4 days - this helps by getting rid of any dying stem at the bottom, allowing the flower to 'drink' enough water
Change the water completely and add fresh flower food after several days have passed - be sure to get rid of any leaves or petals floating in the vase. Also wash the vase to get rid of bacteria before returning the flowers and adding the flower-food enhanced water.
Roses like cooler temperatures, so try to make sure they're in a shaded spot away from heat sources like your television or oven exhaust
Tip: Wilting roses can be revived! Try this - trim off about an inch from the bottom of its stem and then submerge the entire rose under water in a sink or bathtub. Allow the stem to absorb water for about 20-60 minutes before returning them to their vase.
Want to give your roses a "second life"? Here are some creative uses I think are really fun:
- CraftBits gives us a Rose Petal Notebook - how special would you feel remembering your Valentine every time you used the notebook at work? And so pretty, too!
- Old Fashioned Living blog tells us several ideas for DIY projects with roses, including how to dry your rose petals - simple and so nice to keep around, this is a classic way to keep your gift beyond the 'vase life'. Pick apart your petals and lay them out flat on a paper towel. Place the drying rose petals in a spot with good airflow but not in direct sunlight. Turn them over carefully until they're completely dry. That's all there is to it!
- I adore this idea from Family Corner.com - use your rose petals to make rose votives! Now your romantic roses can add a little drama for lovely dinners or other special moments. All it takes is rose petals, glass votive holders, white glue (like Elmer's), white tissue paper and a few other household items (like wax paper to set it all on as it dries).
What ideas do you have for keeping your lovely gift around for an extended time? We'd love to hear!
[Image credits: Rose thumbnail (homepage) & Roses (above) - George Reyes via Flickr]
