How do you preserve roses ?

I've heard you can put an aspirin in the vase to help preserve roses, but I was wondering if there is anyway to save them permanently, like freezing them somehow. Is this possible ? Or any other ideas to help them last longer. Thanks so much !

How do you preserve roses ?
How Cool! I JUST heard About this Today! Spray Hair Spray on them Before you Freeze them, or spray them and leave them in a floral decoration.
Reply:spray them with hairspray
Reply:a drop of vinegar in the vase. i heave heard a drop of clorox bleach. you can also get a nice clear glass and submerge the entire flower in water and freeze it. that's all i can think of.
Reply:Air Dried


Air-drying is a method that can be done by anyone. First divide the flowers into smaller bunches. Remove leaves and tie stems with twine, wire, or rubber bands. Hang bunches upside down in a warm, dry, dark area. Wait until all flowers are totally dry, two to three weeks.


PROS: It is easy and does not involve any cost.


CONS: All flowers darken in color and light shades turn to a dreary brown. Flowers shrivel and lose their shape. Short life span.





Silicia Gel


Silica gel looks like white sand but is formulated for floral drying. To do it yourself you can find silica gel at garden centers or hobby shops. It takes about three pounds to dry 12 average-sized flowers. Cover the bottom of an airtight container, such as a plastic sweater box with a layer of gel. Cut stems, remove leaves and place the flowers on the gel. Cover with more of the silica and cover. Tape the lid to make it as air tight as possible. Check after a week. If flowers feel papery, they are done. If not, close them up and check every two days or so. Remove the flowers and, if needed, use a blow dryer set on cool to remove traces of the silica gel.


PROS: Quick, most flowers dry in a week to 10 days. Can be inexpensive if you do it yourself. Flower shape and color more natural than dried.


CONS: Flowers become brittle, colors darken and flowers are fragile.Results not very natural with roses. Flowers last a little longer than with the air-dried method.





A Couple of "Borax Methods"


This involves burying the flowers in a mixture of borax and white cornmeal (2:1) or borax and sand (2:1). To cover a flower, put about an inch of desiccating material at the bottom of the container; cut the flower stem to about a half an inch and stick this into the center of the material at the bottom to hold the flower. Next, pour the desiccating material along the perimeter of the container, away from the flower, building up a continuous mound of about an inch. Then tap lightly on the container and the material will move to the flower, not altering the form of the petals (in other words, the material will not weigh down the petals as it would if it were just poured on top of the flower). Continue adding the material, tapping on the container, etc. until the flower is completely covered. Lastly, add an inch of the material above the top of the flower.


PROS:These methods result in flowers that are less stiff than those preserved with the "hang and dry" method, but the particles tend to cling to some flowers.


CONS: In some cases, the sand, because of its rough edges, may produce small holes in the petals.


These methods are "trial and error" because the flowers can be burned if embedded too long. About 10 days is the average if cornmeal is used, and about 16 days of drying is needed if sand is used.





Oolitic sand


Most connoisseurs of the art of preserving flowers agree that the best material available for achieving excellent results is oolitic sand, a material found along the Great Salt Lake in Utah.





PROS: Oolitic sand is heavy, which puts steady pressure on the flower while it’s drying; it is smooth therefore, it doesn’t injure the flower; it is hollow, which enhances its ability to absorb water; and it has a relative high pH, which helps to preserve the flowers color. It may be reused.


How much sand is needed? A 1-pound coffee can hold 4 pounds of sand, which is enough to dry one rose.





Microwave Drying


During drying, the flowers must be supported so that they dry in their normal form. A borax/sand mixture or kitty litter will do, but silica gel works best. Cover the flower(s) as described above under desiccants. Use a setting of 4 (that’s about 300 watts) if the microwave oven has about 10 settings. If the microwave oven has a defrost setting, use that (about 200 watts). It takes about two and a half minutes to dry flowers in a half-pound of silica gel.
Reply:I think chilling them, not freezing them. If you freeze them bring the temp down very gradually. Frost will kill them I think.
Reply:I have a German exchange student. He told me over there, they spray them with hairspray!


Worth a shot I guess.
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Reply:To enjoy your roses as long as possible, use the floral preservative that came with your bouquet. Mix the preservative (following directions on the packet) with warm water. Make sure that your vase is clean, add the water with floral preservative into the vase. Cut about 1/2 inch off of the stems of the roses then arrange in vase.


After enjoying your rose bouquet, while these are still fresh and you decide to preserve your roses, wrap the stems with twine or rubber band and hang upside down. The best location to hang your roses or any flowers is in a warm, dry and dark location with good air circulation. The darkness prevents color fading and the dry, warm and air circulation encourage moisture evaporation. Check on your flowers regularly to prevent overdrying. Test if they're dry and rigid, if so, your preservation efforts are complete. Arrange your roses the way you want it and place in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.

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