Ask Extension for answers to commonly asked questions.

Cutting Roses

Source: NDSU T.A.P.E.

The way you cut your roses can help keep the plants vigorous and healthy. Taking long stems with the flowers weakens the plants because they lose food manufacturing leaves along with the blooms. It is best to remove short stems with roses that are cut during the late spring or early summer. New rose plants are especially sensitive to the loss of leaves, so take only short stems along with the blooms during the first year.

Early morning or evening are the best times to cut roses, while the stems and petals are full of water. Select flowers with petals that are just starting to unfold so they'll last longer indoors. It's important to use a sharp tool to cut the stem to reduce damage on the lower part of the cane. Cut stems back to a five-leaflet leaf. New flowering shoots will grow from buds at the points where these leaves join the cane.

Don't carelessly remove thorns and leaves from cut blooms. Peeling back the skin interferes with water flow to the flowers. Allow the cut blooms to stand in room temperature for several hours before arranging them for display. To make the roses last longer indoors, you can add a cut flower preservative to the water in the vase. Preservatives are available from most florists.

If you have further questions, please contact your local county extension office for further information.

Back to Flowers Menu
Go to Ask Extension Index Page
For More Information Contact your North Dakota County Extension Office of the NDSU Extension Service for additional information or see our main NDSU Web Page for publications and articles on Agriculture, Horticulture, Youth and Family, Business and Community and Food and Nutrition at  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/