Preserving Wax Roses: The Beauty

How Can You Preserve Roses?

Roses can be preserved and made longer-lasting in various ways.

Can Fresh Flowers Be Preserved?

Preserving fresh flowers or roses is actually possible with various methods.

If you want to preserve the flowers in their freshest state, wax or drying options are recommended.

In this article, we mainly focus on preserving roses with wax. Drying flowers and roses has been described in a more general article. However, if you have questions about specific points, feel free to leave a comment or contact us through the contact form.

We will also create an article on the topic of drying roses soon, which you can find here: Drying Roses Properly.

To summarize, preserving fresh flowers is not only possible but also highly recommended, especially if the bouquet was given for a special event. Drying may seem challenging or daunting, but it's not more difficult than ordering a bouquet from our online flower shop, so give it a try!

How Long Does a Wax Rose Last?

The longevity of a wax-coated rose depends on various factors that affect the rose's lifespan. Pay particular attention to the following points:

• Wax thickness
• Positioning of the rose head
• Positioning within the living space

If these three points are optimally implemented, you can expect a durability of 2 to 3 weeks, during which the wax flowers will delight you. You can also use scented wax for waxing or decorate the finished waxed rose with craft decorations, giving it a personal touch!

The wax thickness should not be too thick, and the rose head should be supported with a thinner wire or greenery, as the original stem of the rose is not designed to hold such weight.

Additionally, the rose should not be exposed to direct heat or warmth to keep the wax layer intact and provide long-lasting enjoyment. If these points are considered when preserving roses, not much can go wrong!

How Do You Make a Wax Rose?

To prepare for waxing, you will need:

• Heat-resistant pot for the wax
• Container with cold water
• Wax
• Toothpicks
• Skewers for the rose heads
• A knife or scissors

To wax roses, each rose head is first separated from the stem and placed on a wooden skewer or similar. Handle with care to avoid damaging the rose!

Once the rose is prepared, fill the wax container and heat it in a water bath until the wax is liquid and ready for use. Regularly stir to check if the mixture has the desired liquid consistency. Once it’s ready, remove the container from the water bath.

Prepare the cold water bath as the roses will now be waxed!

Dip the skewered rose heads upside down into the container filled with wax, coating them completely. Use the toothpick to shape the rose and determine the thickness of the layers. If satisfied, the final step is to cool the wax by dipping the rose in cold water. Then, choose a place where the roses can cool down. Ensure you reinforce the stems before placing the rose heads back onto them.

That was quite easy, and the preservation is sure to be an eye-catcher for any visitor – our secret tip.

Should You Preserve Roses?

Of course, why not? Long-lasting roses are great, whether with wax, glycerin, or simply treated with hairspray. Drying is also a wonderful way to preserve the beauty of the rose. How each method affects longevity is explained further below in the article.

Where Can I Buy Wax Roses?

You can buy them at a good price on eBay or Amazon, but we recommend making your own wax rose decorations from the rose petals or whole flowers.

Why?

Who else has homemade wax rose bouquets at home? Hardly anyone! It’s something special for eternity, and even if it's just a small thing, it will bring you joy for a long time.

Making Roses Last with Other Methods?

Roses can be made more durable using many different methods. We have written a general article on drying roses, flower bouquets, and plants. In the next sections, we will examine methods with glycerin, sugar, washing powder, and hairspray to determine if they are viable alternatives or if you should avoid such tricks.

Preserving with Glycerin?

You can obtain glycerin from the pharmacy, which is our number one tip. How this works and details on preservation will be revealed in our separate blog – Preserving Roses.

We will specifically address the preservation of roses and not only cover drying but also explicitly discuss the use of glycerin. You can already get glycerin from the pharmacy to try it yourself.

Sugar as an Alternative?

Sugar is far from an alternative; avoid such home remedy tricks! If you care about the well-being of your flowers, avoid sugar and other home remedies. It may have worked for some, but in practice, it doesn’t make sense and is rather harmful. Sugar, in particular, promotes bacterial growth, causing your flower to wilt quickly.

Is Washing Powder an Alternative?

This method caught our eye during research. Washing powder is said to help preserve flowers. To use this method, place the bouquet in washing powder and let it sit in a sealed container for 2 days to dry. Afterwards, you can enjoy the preserved flowers longer than usual. The washing powder mixture is said to work wonders!

Alternatively, hang the flowers upside down in a dark room to dry. Then wait and place the dried flowers in the room as desired.

Preserving with Hairspray?

Hairspray is one of the more affordable preservation methods, extending the life of flowers by 1–2 weeks compared to their natural lifespan.

Don’t Trust Hairspray?

There are also preservation sprays specifically designed for flowers available on Amazon. You can order them online and follow the instructions provided. Read and follow the directions!

How Long Do These Alternatives Last?

Whether using glycerin, drying, or coating flowers with wax, each alternative extends the natural lifespan of the flowers. We have already written several articles on care, vases, and keeping bouquets fresh, and continue to question popular home remedies for the well-being of plants.

If you care about the color of the blooms, choose a method that not only keeps them fresh but also retains the color better.

Fading rose petals or flowers in general cannot be completely prevented; small changes will always be noticeable. However, consider what sounds interesting to you and how you want to place the plant later. Avoid extra wax layers in a warm location, as they may melt and damage your plants.

What if I Can’t Decide?

Trying is better than studying. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Personally, I find air-drying the most appealing. Maybe you also want your bouquet preserved this way – give it a try!

Are These Alternatives Effective?

Yes, if you want to make your bouquet last, the tips mentioned from 2022 will help. Whether dried, preserved, or coated with wax, each method has its benefits and is unique! Once the preservation is complete, focus on placing the flowers properly in the room. Pay extra attention to direct sunlight with wax – it can cause melting, which is a complete no-go!

Having a homemade bouquet in a vase, preserved thanks to the contributions from FlowersDeluxe – we’d love to hear that!