A bouquet of roses is a beautiful, fragrant addition to any room. Remove leaves that may decay under water. When removing leaves and thorns, do not cut through the green bark.
Air can enter the water-conducting passages through the injuries and restrict water uptake.
Bacteria in the water can clog stems. While holding the stems under water or running water, cut about one inch off each stem with a sharp knife or shears. Do not let the newly cut end dry off before transferring it to the arrangement or other container. Water in which a good floral preservative has been added is the best solution in which to arrange fresh-cut roses. Florists can provide small packages of floral preservative.