Guest post by Amy Balsters
Spray roses are one of the most versatile flowers available! They add stunning depth, color, and interest to bouquets and centerpieces. They can also confidently stand as a single stem in a bud vase, face-crushing hug after hug in a boutonniere, delicately lay as hair flowers, and withstand hours without a water source in an installation. These powerhouse stems are a go-to in my design work.
Proper Care & Handling
Spray roses can be best appreciated after receiving proper care. Hydration and careful handling will allow spray roses to fully open without damage and will ensure the performance and longevity of these stems. I always use a hydration solution when processing spray roses. I allow the roses to hydrate with the packaging on to ensure their stems straighten. Like I do with all flowers, I remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline. After initial hydration, remove the packaging and remaining foliage (if desired) to allow your bloom heads to open.
Here are the steps in a checklist:
Step 1: Prepare hydration solution with cool, deep water.
Step 2: Keep packaging on while processing.
Step 3: Remove foliage that will sit below the waterline.
Step 4: Trim ½ to 1 inch off the bottom of the stems with sharp, clean shears.
Step 5: Hydrate the roses with the packaging on for at least one hour.
Step 6: Remove the packaging and, if desired, remove all remaining foliage, if desired.
With proper care, Alexandra Farm garden spray roses can last 10-12 days!
Watch a complete how-to on this process.
Using Spray Roses in Design Work
Spray rose varieties can differ in open rates. I like to receive them a few days before my event and let them open out of the cooler. Once they near peak bloom, I place them back in the cooler so they are primed but protected for event day. In a retail setting, keep spray roses in the cooler for maximum freshness and longevity.
When I design with spray roses, I like to review each stem to determine its best use case. Spray rose stems with multiple blooms at the same or similar height are terrific for coverage and depth. Spray roses with laterals at varying heights are a natural choice for creating flowing, terraced lines in designs. Spray roses with attractive or unique profiles are more likely to float in my designs.
All of the roses featured here are from Alexandra Farms. They truly grow the most magnificent roses. I’ve been to their farm and seen with my own eyes how exceptional their process is! They grow seven varieties of spray garden roses (my fave) and are releasing two more this spring. Their spray garden roses are bred in France and Japan and have won several awards from both the Society of American Florists' Outstanding Varieties Competition and Proflora's Outstanding Variety Competition over the past few years.
Spray roses are one of the first stems I reach for as I make my bouquets. When their most attractive feature is their face, I use them deeper in my bouquets so they are facing the viewer. Loli Spr pairs attractively with mauve and peach blooms like ranunculus, zinnia, celosia, Miyabi and Millicent.
With long laterals and a unique profile, Princess Midori Spr is best used to create unique lines in an arrangement.
To learn more tips on designing with spray roses and see a complete spray rose processing and design demo, be sure to watch the video above.
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