The Best Roses For Cut Flowers
About this episode
This episode discusses the best practices for cutting roses for flower arrangements and highlights specific rose varieties.
Bullet Points from the Podcast, “The Best Roses for Cut Flowers” * Always cut long stems, not just the spent bloom. Snipping only 1-2 inches when deadheading causes the plant to push out short, crooked replacement growth; cutting deep into the cane produces another long stem. * Make cuts just above a five-leaflet leaf (not a three-leaflet one), and choose a node pointing outward from the bush’s center. This improves air circulation and keeps stems growing straight. * Recut stems underwater every couple of days, trimming about an inch off the bottom to remove air bubbles and keep water moving up the stem so buds continue to open. * Strip off any foliage that will sit below the waterline submerged leaves decay and foul the water. * Use flower food, or a sugar-water substitute like regular (non-diet) Sprite or 7Up, to keep water cleaner and nourish cut stems; tap water is otherwise fine. * For low-thorn, long-stemmed cutting roses, favor hybrid teas and grandifloras like Ring of Fire, Hot Princess, Olympiad, Veteran’s Honor, Gold Medal, and Strike It Rich. Many grandifloras have notably fewer prickles. * For reliably long-lasting vase life (opening slowly over about a week), pick…
More episodes of Beyond the Garden Basics
- When Should You Prune Your Blueberries?
- How to Plant and Care for a Shade Tree
- Home Weather Station Setup for Gardeners
- More Heat-Beating Garden Tips
- Controlling Starthistle, Summer's Most Evil Weed*
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Beyond the Garden Basics podcast page.