How to recognize fresh roses - 5 rules.
1. Lightly squeeze the bud, it should not be soft and ideally it will be half-open. This applies to most varieties of roses with a few exceptions such as Garden roses, whose buds open the same day they arrive and are slightly soft.
Interestingly, to ensure roses last longer they arrive to flower shops in a so called “dry” condition, which simply means they are dehydrated for transport. In the “dry” state, their head is very soft. Upon receipt, florists need to “wake up” the roses by cutting the stems and putting them in water for 4-5 hours. As they “drink“, the head will obtain the necessary firmness.
2. The lack of the rough outside petals of roses, the ones that protect it from the sun while growing, may be a sign of an attempt to give them a second life. Florists usually remove them just before making a bouquet or composition. Although in some varieties of roses, they are removed earlier before putting the flowers in the refrigerator, to give a more impressive “presentation”.
3. The stem of the rose should be uniform in color along its entire length, and the leaves should be green. Partial discoloration and dryness are a sign of wilting.
