6 Explanations for Why Your Rose Is Wilting
The rose is one of the most beautiful flowers globally, admired for its divine scent and angelic beauty. Nevertheless, it’s one of those flowers that need proper maintenance.
They’re one of the most vulnerable plants around, as unfortunately, they are prone to wilting for various factors. Here are some of them.
1. It was harvested too early
One of the most common reasons for a bouquet to wilt prematurely is being harvested too early.
This can happen when florists work with roses and pick them up before reaching their full maturity. It could also be that you brought your flowers home from the store too soon and they haven’t even arranged them yet.
Here’s how you can determine if this is indeed what happened. Rose stems are ready for harvest when their petals are dry and their sepals are not yet turning brown.
The flower should be cut from the stem at an angle, preferably while still in its initial opening stage. If any color has appeared in the petals or sepals, then your flowers were not yet fully mature at harvesting time.
2. It is susceptible to wilting
Many rose varieties are highly susceptible to wilting. Particular roses will be able to survive a bit more neglect, but even they require some basic attention.
If you live in an area with a very hot climate or have a lot of shade in your garden, opt for varieties resistant to wilting. These include New Dawn, Double Delight, and Sunsprite.
Conversely, avoid planting the following varieties in climates where wilting is likely: Peace, White Candles, and Beautiful Spring.
3. It is experiencing post-harvest stress
There are many reasons that your rose might start to wilt in its vase, but one of the most common is known as post-harvest stress.
This means that the flower has been under too much stress, either due to injury or exposure to extreme temperatures. The pressure causes cellular damage and will shorten the flower’s lifespan.
To prevent this from happening, you should try and handle your roses as little as possible once they have been cut from their stem. When transporting them home from the florist or market, carry them carefully and avoid banging them against other hard surfaces.
Once you get home, make sure that you prepare a fresh vase with water immediately and give the stems a thorough cut at an angle to absorb moisture more easily.
Finally, keep your roses away from heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces so that they don’t dry up.
4. It was stored improperly
That’s right. Your rose cannot last long if you don’t store it in the right place, even before you buy it. Before picking up a rose at the florist or supermarket on your next payday, make sure to check the storage area’s temperature.
The temperature will give you a hint on how long your chosen rose can be stored there. Store your roses in cool places, with temperatures ranging from 36°F to 38°F (2°C – 3°C).
Avoid large fluctuations in temperature as well as direct sunlight because these can cause wilting and browning of petals. Instead, keep them in a vase with fresh water away from direct sunlight for up to one week.
5. It was exposed to Ethylene
Ethylene is a gas that is released by many fruits and vegetables, including apples, bananas, cantaloupes, avocados, and more. Ethylene can cause flower petals to fall off prematurely or not open at all.
Ethylene can be produced by a number of other sources, including gas stoves, heaters, and cigarette smoke.
If you suspect your rose might be affected by ethylene exposure, remove all the fruits and vegetables in the fridge (or wherever it’s being stored) away from the rose. Remove any other potential sources of ethylene as well.
6. It has insufficient water
In addition to soil pH and nutrient deficiencies, insufficient water uptake can cause roses to wilt. If you have a young rose plant, it may simply need watering more often.
It may also be that the plant needs deeper watering. It’s a good idea to check if the soil is too dry or too wet, as well.
Another thing to keep in mind is that roots require air to breathe. If a plant has not been watered enough for some time, the root ball can become very compacted and hard, making it more difficult for roots to take up water and nutrients from the soil.
A portion of this problem can be remedied by digging up your rose bush and breaking up some of the root balls with your hands. However, this should only be done if you’re confident you know what you’re doing.
You could do harm if you mistreat your plants’ roots, so better safe than sorry.
With the tips mentioned above, you can properly maintain the beauty and structure of your rose. This variety of flowers is perfect as gifts or to freshen up the interior design in your home. You may also opt to deliver flowers to better surprise your loved one.
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