Preserving Live Roses...

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Feb 5, 2007 | 05:43 PM

Nightrain

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From: Dixie - Tennessee

Preserving Live Roses...

I had a little thought for the sweetie on Valentine's Day, but I'm not sure how to pull it off...

I know this sounds totally crazy, but what I want to do is buy a dozen long-stem roses and coat them with something that will preserve them for life. Something like a clearcoat, if you follow what I mean.

Any ideas, fellas?

Nightrain

Feb 5, 2007 | 06:35 PM

smokestone52

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From: Las Vegas, NV

Man, the best I can say I'd press them. My mother-in-law taught me this. Go ahead and give her the roses. Then before they start dying, put them in the pages of some books. I used an old bible just because it was big. Then stack weight up on your home made press. I forget how long to leave them, but several months comes to mind. Some of the other old guys like me, might help out here. My wife has on display, the roses from our wedding back in the dinosaur days, in our family room. They are in a wood and glass case that I built for them. Yeah they are a bit flat, but the color is darn near the same as the day she recieved them. This is the old school way. Heck I am sure new ways have been developed, depending on how much money you have to dispose of!

Feb 5, 2007 | 06:44 PM

Mil1ion

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On Michele's 36th BD I bought her 3 dozen roses and had them freeze dried in a special arrangement in a basket before they died.

I'll if I can find a pic.
EDIT:
shown here at bottom of her Pig Pen.

The other way is to put them in a bucket of silica sand until they dehydrate then remove them and put them wherever

You can get this sand at craft shops.

Last edited by Mil1ion; Feb 5, 2007 at 06:50 PM.

Feb 5, 2007 | 07:00 PM

Nightrain

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From: Dixie - Tennessee

Thanks for the idears, fellas.

I like the press idea, the freeze drying, and the silica sand. All of 'em sound like winners.

If a feller went with the dehydration in the silica sand, how long would one suggest to leave them?

Freeze drying would be nice, but I don't know of any facilities around here that do that sorta thing.

Thanks again.

Nightrain

Feb 5, 2007 | 07:01 PM

Mil1ion

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Call local flower shops, or craft places..someone will know about these places.

It's only a click away.

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci...cap/h1037w.htm

Last edited by Mil1ion; Feb 5, 2007 at 07:05 PM.