FLORISTS TRADE SECRET - VALENTINE'S DAY

ROSE RESCUE - BEAT THOSE DROOPING HEADS

Valentine's Day roses are force grown to be available in massive quantities for just the right date, so they can be literally exhausted when you get them, if you're lucky!!  Rose stems are woody and prone to airlocks and thats the primary reason that the heads can droop very quickly once you put them in water, its so disappointing not to mention the fact that they have cost someone an arm and a leg.  Dont worry, this is what you do....

1.  Boil the kettle and get a jug ready

2.  Get a tall bucket and fill it high with very cold water, as cold as you can.

3.  Cut the stems of the roses at a 45' angle not straight across, this makes a larger surface area for drinking - re-cutting is always advised.

4. Is that kettle boiled yet?  right then, pour about an inch of boiling water into the jug and plunge a few of the rose stems you have cut into the jug.  Watch as the air bubbles leave the stem ends and come to the top, hold them there til the bubbles subside, about 10 - 15 seconds and then quickly transfer them into the very cold water.  This is similar to 'bleeding' a central heating system to get the air bubbles out, if air is trapped in the stems then the water cant go up into the heads and they droop.  Go through this process until all your roses have been transferred into the cold water. Let them have a good drink, an hour at least, and you'll find those heads perk back up.  Put back into a clean vase of clean cold water and enjoy!!!

Im a wedding florist and teacher, I sell floristry sundries on ebay so please call by and take a look.  Take a look at my ebay listings

Dont Forget  UK Mother's Day just 2 weeks from Valentine's Day

Eve   E-JAY TRADING