Making Sure Your
Roses Look Their Best
oses symbolize
love, romance
and passion, so
it's no surprise that red roses
are the most popular flower choice
for Valentine's Day. More than half of
all Valentine's Day purchases include
roses, so the longer they last, the
longer the romantic mood endures.
By following a few simple practices,
you can ensure the longest-lasting
roses on Valentine's Day—or any day
of the year. Consider the important
factors leading to maximum flower
quality and longevity.
Buy the Best Roses
Vase life of roses is determined partly
by the harvesting, processing, handling
and shipping of the flowers prior to
arrival in your flower shop. Roses
Care and Handling 101
should be harvested at the correct stage
of development, properly hydrated and
free of leaf browning and diseases. AFE-
supported research shows that many
rose varieties are sensitive to ethylene.
Flowers produce ethylene internally if
stressed by temperature, vibration or
disease. Symptoms of ethylene damage
vary with variety
but include petal and leaf drop, failure
to open and reduced vase life. Growers
can treat roses to prevent ethylene
damage; be sure to ask your suppliers
for this special treatment.
Process Roses Immediately
Most roses are shipped dry for long
distances over several days and may
have been harvested well in advance
of the holiday. e care roses receive
at the wholesale and retail points
is critical to quality and vase life.
Use of proper hydration and flower-
food solutions will increase vase
life by three to five days or longer
for consumers.
When your roses arrive, recut the stem
ends with a sterilized cutter (unless
using a no-cut flower food solution),
and place flowers into sanitized buckets
with a properly proportioned flower-
food solution. Removing the sleeves
at this time will reduce moisture on
the flowers, reducing the possibility
of Botrytis growth. Once processed,
move the roses to a flower cooler.
R
Design
60
January | 2022
