How To Make Your Rose Bouquet Even Prettier (and Longer-Lasting)

For 14 years now, S has always surprised me with a big bouquet of roses for Valentines Day. It is so sweet, and this year I have three Valentines! Whenever I can, I try to follow a few steps to really extend the life of my rose bouquet. I also have a few secrets to add a little life to roses to make them look fuller, more sumptuous, and picture-perfect!

Step 1 - cut

First step is to cut the ends of your stems (on a slant). Cut with a sharp pair of garden clippers or scissors to your preferred length! Immediately immerse the cut ends in water. Try to do this as soon as you get your flowers, because they WILL wilt! The cut is everything! And you can do this a few times, a few days apart, to lengthen the life of your roses.

step 2 - clean

While you have your scissors out, it’s time for step two! For the prettiest, picture-perfect roses, go ahead and cut some of the green leaves off the stem for a clean, polished look. Sometimes leaves wilt and look a little sad! This step cleans up the overall look of the roses in your vase!

Step 3 -tie

Third, once you have your roses cut and cleaned up, get a small rubber band and tie up your stems. Try to arrange your stems so that they overlap loosely, and aren’t a tight bunch (imagine holding a stack of pencils clenched tightly in your fist — avoid this). Tie your rubber band towards the top, and be careful of thorns!

Step 4 - “pull” the petals

Lastly, and the most fun, is what I call the “pulling” step. Gently, and patiently, pull some of the petals away from the center of the rosebud. This opens up the flower beautifully and allows you to admire all of the gorgeous layers of the bud. The key here is to gently use your fingers to peel back petals, one at a time, to avoid breaking the petals right off. Make sure you take the time to literally stop and smell the roses here. Flowers are such a marvel of nature, and so worthy of our admiration. Beauty can be found in the littlest things.

And…that’s it! Four tips to beautify your rose bouquet, just in time for Valentine’s Day! I also recommend using the preservative that comes with your fresh cut roses immediately. Make sure you mix it in the water until it fully dissolves as if you are mixing up a powdered drink. If you happen to throw out your preservatives by accident, you can always use a few drops of Prolong (yes, the stuff that you use for Christmas trees!).

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Ciao, xo!