How to Care for Fresh Roses

Making Roses Last

Fresh roses can hold their beauty for a week or more with a little attention. Start by trimming an inch off each stem at a sharp angle under running water, which keeps air from blocking the stem and helps the bloom drink freely.

Strip away any leaves that would sit below the waterline, since submerged foliage breaks down quickly and clouds the vase. Change the water every couple of days and add a small pinch of the flower food that came with your bouquet.

Little Things That Help

Keep your roses out of direct sunlight and away from drafts or ripening fruit, which releases gases that age flowers faster. A cool room overnight can add days to their life. With these simple habits, a gift of roses keeps giving long after it arrives.