Rose storage temperature, how to keep cut flowers fresh

Having received roses as a gift, we rush to preserve their life by placing them in an elegant vase. Alas, we all know that it is not possible to store them for a long time. After just a few days of home storage, beauty begins to bow its head, lose freshness and fade.

According to florists, a bouquet can preserve such consumer qualities as aroma, elasticity of petals and brightness of color for up to several weeks. What is the secret of success? In proper care and little tricks, if you follow which you will admire the flowers for almost a month. We’ll tell you in detail how to keep roses fresh for longer on your own.

How to preserve cut roses at home

The long-term storage of cut roses depends on many factors.

The basic rules for keeping cut flowers at home include:

It is not recommended to unpack purchased bouquets immediately. It is better to let them lie in a cool place for some time. After this, rinse the sections under running water, but the buds themselves should not touch the water;
When placing a bouquet in a vase, only stems without leaves, which may begin to rot, should be under water;
It is recommended to change the water daily and wash the vase in which the flowers stand with detergent;
Before placing roses in a vase, it should be thoroughly washed with a disinfectant that will destroy pathogenic organisms;
Regular spraying of leaves will help keep plants in good shape. When spraying, it is important to prevent liquid from getting inside the buds;
To maintain freshness for a long time, you can use a special mixture of nutrients and antiseptic, which can be purchased at a specialty store. However, if the mixture is not at hand, you can replace it with a spoonful of sugar diluted in a liter of water with an aspirin tablet and a couple of boric acid crystals;
It is important to remember that a bouquet located next to fruits or vegetables will wither much faster, which occurs as a result of exposure to ethanol. The latter is secreted by the fruits;
When choosing a vase, it is important to pay attention to its depth. So 2/3 of the length of the stems should be immersed in water;
During the cold season, it is not recommended to place flowers near heating devices. Also, it is important to remember that plants do not tolerate tobacco smoke, drafts and direct sunlight.

Ideally, if possible, it is better to put the bouquet in a cool room at night.

If this is not possible, you can always wrap the bouquet in paper and move it from the vase to a bucket.

Trend 2022 – black and asymmetrical vases

Matte and glossy black vases are like a little black dress, that is, the ideal base for any bouquet. They are spectacular in different designs, be it glass, ceramics, metal or stone.

Don't be afraid of black! In a dark interior, such a vase will emphasize texture and add depth. In light colors it will become a contrasting accent and add nobility. In combination with natural materials (wood and stone), black color becomes a hit in ethnic style.

Strict lines, cubes and rectangles are still popular. However, they are slowly being replaced by free form and asymmetry. Keep in mind that a vase of complex shape should not have any ornament or design - this is considered bad form. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to experiment and add bold solutions to your everyday life.

Optimal storage temperature for cut roses

If cut roses can be given or sold right away, great. But in cases where they need to be transported, or kept cut for some time before sale, it is important to know what temperature for storage will be optimal.

The ideal temperature is +8-10 C. At home, you can use a refrigerator or, if the temperature allows, a balcony for storage.

When the permissible temperature increases, there is a possibility that the flowers will wither. The same danger applies to temperature drops below + 5 C.

Maintaining temperature balance and proper hydration is an important condition for keeping flowers looking fresh for a long time. Since roses are delicate, the slightest deviation from the norm can destroy the cut plant.

Quantity

The number of roses in a bouquet has a certain meaning. Most often, a composition of roses is composed and interpreted as follows:

a single rose for a girl is a message about emerging love and hope for reciprocity;
3 roses - love and passion for a loved one; or respect for a friend or colleague;
5 roses - a manifestation of romantic feelings or wishes for the best in life;
7 roses - passionate love, marriage proposal; but may be a simple sign of respect;
9 roses - a sign of admiration or a traditional bouquet for a birthday;
19 roses is a lucky number, means a wish for a long life together, a good gift for a wedding;
21….101 roses – will be appropriate for anniversary celebrations.

Under what conditions are flowers stored in a flower shop?

Storing flowers in a store requires special care, since the slightest mistake can lead to the destruction of the entire product. So, the most important thing in storing roses in any conditions is the systematic change of water.

If this is not done, there is a danger of the activation and spread of putrefactive bacteria.

In addition, in stores to keep plants in good shape:

Add one drop of bleach to the water to stop rotting. In this case, the water must be cool;
Before placing the bouquet in water, the ends of the stems are split and the lower leaves are carefully trimmed. Sometimes the cut is scalded with boiling water;
Every evening, roses, as rather capricious plants, are refreshed: the lower leaves and thorns are removed, the cuts are refreshed;
The water in the vase should be cold enough to cover the stems. Since cut plants need cool air, flower plants maintain an optimal temperature;
In addition to a special powder or aspirin tablet, half a streptomycin tablet mixed in three liters of water can maintain a fresh appearance. Such mixtures prevent the formation of putrefactive bacteria that cause rotting of the stems.

A flower shop is a place where cut plants are cared for by specialists. If the care instructions are not followed, there is a danger of losing the entire product.

Care

Replacing water and additives does not guarantee that the bouquet will forgive for a long time. In order for it to decorate the interior of the house longer and retain its qualities, it needs to be looked after.

What to do:

Spray the stems and leaves with settled water every day, in hot weather, 2-3 times a day, trying not to touch the flowers;
wash the vase to remove plaque on the walls;
Trim the stems under running water every 3 days.

Is it possible to store roses in the cold?

Many experts recommend moving plants to a cool place at night. This helps keep the plant fresh longer.

But it is important to remember that a temperature drop below + 5 C can destroy the plant.

But, if the plants have spent some time in the cold, it is strictly forbidden to immediately bring them into a warm room. Due to the sharp temperature change, they will surely wither.

Roses should have time to get used to the new temperature a little. Therefore, even if the plants did spend some time in the cold, returning them to a warm room should also be done with extreme caution.

Where to put

The roses have settled into their new place, the bouquet has been drawn up, now all that remains is to choose a place for it to stand longer.

What to look for when choosing a location:

if the sun hits the bouquet, then the process of evaporation from the surface of the leaves and flowers is more intense, so it is better to place it away from the window or create shading on the window;
there should be no drafts - a sharp change in air temperature leads to shedding of the petals;
a place near heating devices and air conditioners is detrimental to delicate flowers;
the aroma of roses is lost if they are near food, products, fruits, and indoor plants;
room temperature comfortable for roses is 16-19 °C;
On a cool balcony or loggia you can keep roses in good condition for a long time.

Tricks to help extend the life of a bouquet

In addition to the basic, widespread methods of keeping roses in good shape, there are several more nuances.

So, in order to prevent the petals from falling off, it is recommended:

Do not remove the packaging from the presented bouquet immediately, allow the flowers to acclimatize;
Before putting flowers in a vase, immerse the bouquet, along with the leaves, in water for a while. You can use a bucket or bathtub;
When choosing containers, it is better to focus on ceramics; such vases keep water fresh longer or are transparent. The walls of the latter allow sunlight to pass through, which has a positive effect on the condition of the cut plants;
Before filling the vase, it must be sterilized. To do this, you need to boil water and hold the container over the steam for five minutes. After this, let the vase cool and fill with water;
You shouldn't put roses in the kitchen. In the room where the bouquet is located, the air should be clean;
It is better to take water from a natural source: a well or spring. If this is not possible, you can use tap water that has stood for three hours. The most optimal liquid temperature is room temperature;
To maintain freshness in water, you can dissolve a few tablets of activated carbon, two drops of ammonia, a couple of glucose tablets or a couple of spoons of sugar.

When changing the water daily, it is better to move the flowers into a basin with a small amount of water. Here it is recommended to cut the stems diagonally. When moving the bouquet back into the vase, you should press the cut points with your finger to prevent air from entering.

Of course, all these secrets take time, but it's worth it. If you take a few minutes to care for the bouquet, the roses will delight their owners for a long time.

Extend the stems with wire

This method is suitable for short plants with thick and rigid stems: roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas... To prevent them from falling into the vessel, we will lengthen them:

You will need ordinary metal wire with a diameter of 1 to 4 mm (depending on the thickness of the stem).
We apply the flower from the bouquet to the jug, hold the wire in the other hand and look at how long it needs to be increased, add about 3 centimeters, that’s how much will go into the shoot and cut off the wire. Next, insert it into the stem (cut point) and you’re done.
We do the same actions with the remaining flowers.

And if you don’t have a wire of the required thickness, or it bends under the weight of the flower, you can insert not one, but two or three into each, depending on the situation.

Appearance

It is better to purchase roses in cool retail outlets. Their freshness can be determined by several signs:

The peduncle is 2/3 or half open.
A strong, well-springing bud is embraced by upward-pointing sepals.
The upper petals of the bud are well preserved and do not differ in color from the main one.
The inner petals are without spots or blemishes.
The color of the rose is rich.
The stem of the flower is fleshy, smooth, firmly standing.
The leaves are bright green.