I make sure the bushes have plenty of everything except nitrogen. Nitrogen application is minimized about 3 weeks prior to a show. That is hard to say, but I have high expectations for Lynette, Ivory Fashion, and Fairhope at show time. I recut the stems under water, then place them in warm water up to their necks. I condition the big roses for about 2 hours and the minis for about 45 minutes.
Sanitation is very important in preserving the blooms.
I much prefer Floralife D.C.D. to the use of Clorox when sanitizing my buckets, cups, cooler, etc. Keeping the blooms as cold as possible without freezing them will also increase their lives substantially. Kristin, Child s Play, Jean Kenneally, Snow Bride, Black Jade, and Figurine are the most reliable for me. After that it is more of a gamble. I probably prize the Earl of Warwick Urn over any other trophy that we have won.