The $10 Rose Challenge

These last few weeks, we've been obsessed with roses.  From just visiting Antique Rose Emporium for the first time --first of many already-- to using cut roses for decorations for a dinner party in the pavilion, we can't get enough of them. When we recently got the cut roses, we wanted to figure out what we could do to make them last as long as possible.

After a ton of research, we found some tips and tricks that have made a $10 bouquet of roses last for a week and a half (and STILL going strong!!).

Tips from Rose Pros:

• Roses are happiest in lukewarm water, if the water is too hot or too cold, it can shock the roses and shorten their life

• Use the flower food that comes with cut flowers. They contain ingredients that are used to lengthen the life of the roses, and to help encourage them to bloom and open

  • If your roses don't come with flower food, there's tons of recipes online for a homemade version

• Remove the extra leaves (below the water line in the vase) and the guard petals (outer petals). Do leave the thrones, though even though it'll feel like you should remove them

• Snip the stems at a 45 degree angle to make it easier for the roses to absorb the water and flower food

• Change the water regularly, it doesn't need to be daily, but every few days will help the longevity of the roses

• Lastly, roses prefer to be in the shade and a bit cooler, so keeping the vase out of the sun will help the roses flourish

...and the most surprising tip we found?

Keep your cut roses away from fruits and vegetables. When your fruits and veggies are ripening, they release a natural plant hormone that causes roses to wilt faster.

We can't wait to see how much longer our $10 roses will be looking good.

Let us know if you've tried any of these tips and how long you can get your roses to last.