This article was co-authored by Rachel Cho and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Rachel Cho is a Floral Designer, Plant Specialist, and the Owner of Rachel Cho Floral Design, a floral shop based in New York City. With more than 16 years of experience, she specializes in original and impactful floral design and is known for her dexterity, innate artistry, and design sense. Rachel’s work has been featured in numerous national media outlets such as The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Huffington Post Weddings.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 184,463 times.
Fresh rose petals are beautiful decorations for weddings, parties, and other special events. It may seem intimidating to work with fresh flowers, but this project is super easy! All you need are a few airtight containers, some paper towels, and enough roses for your event. Follow these steps and you'll have fresh, beautiful petals to decorate with.
Steps
Removing the Rose Petals
-
1Keep fresh roses cool until you're ready to work with them. Place your cut roses in cool water in a clean container, like a vase, until you're ready to use them. Store the vase somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, like a cellar or garage, so they stay looking their best.[1]
- Replace the vase water every 2-3 days if you plan to store them that long.[2]
-
2Prepare the petals no earlier than 3 days before you need them. 3 days is probably the maximum amount of time you want to store fresh rose petals if you plan to use them as decorations. If you try to store fresh rose petals for longer than 3 days, they won't be in peak condition when you go to use them.[3]
- For example, if you're using the petals to decorate a wedding, don't remove the petals from the roses until 3 days before the event at the earliest.
Advertisement -
3Grasp the rose bloom firmly and pull it off the stem. Grab the thick part of the stem right under the bloom with one hand. Then, pinch the entire head of the rose bloom with your other hand. Gently pry the bloom away from the stem until the entire bloom, petals and all, separates from the stem.[4]
- Avoid yanking or being rough with the petals since this can bruise them.
-
4Separate the petals from each other gently with your fingers. Insert your fingers into the center of the bloom and gently pull and separate the individual petals. Let the petals fall gently to a clean, flat work surface as you continue with the rest of your blooms.[5]
-
5Remove enough fresh rose petals to cover your intended project. The number of roses you need really depends on what you're using them for and how heavily you plan to layer them. After you separate the first bloom and see the petal yield, you'll have a better idea of how many additional roses you need for your project.[6]
- For example, if you're scattering them down the aisle at a wedding, consider the length of the aisle and how thickly you want to layer the petals.
- It's better to have extra petals on hand rather than not enough, especially if you plan to use them as decorations.
Packing and Storing Fresh Petals
-
1Transfer the fresh petals to an airtight bag or container. Petals are very lightweight, so don't worry about them crushing each other. Fill zip-lock baggies or airtight containers with petals, just don't compact them or put additional pressure on them.[7]
-
2Place a dry paper towel in the container or bag and seal it tightly. Tuck the dry paper towel into the bag with the petals or place it on top or underneath them before sealing the container.[10] Double-check the lid or baggie to confirm it's completely sealed.[11]
- The dry paper towel helps absorb extra moisture from the petals while they're in storage.
-
3Place the sealed container in your fridge. Find a stable, safe area in the fridge where the container won't be disturbed.[12] Avoid putting the container near any fresh fruits or vegetables, since their proximity can cause the petals to wilt.[13]
- If you're ordering bags of roses petals for a wedding, do it about 2 weeks before the event. Request them to be delivered 1-2 days before the event. Keep them in the bag and place them in your fridge until you're ready to use them.
-
4Take the petals out and shake them every 1-2 days to keep them loose. This stops the petals from sticking together and also helps air circulate in the container(s). Give the petals a gentle shake or turn the container(s) over. Then, put them back in the fridge immediately.[14]
-
5Decorate with the petals no earlier than 2 hours before your event. Keep the petals sealed and refrigerated until right before you need to use them so they're as fresh and gorgeous as possible. Keep in mind that if you're decorating with petals outdoors in full sun, they might dry up or wilt faster than usual.[15]
Expert Q&A
-
QuestionHow do you dry fresh rose petals?
Rachel ChoRachel Cho is a Floral Designer, Plant Specialist, and the Owner of Rachel Cho Floral Design, a floral shop based in New York City. With more than 16 years of experience, she specializes in original and impactful floral design and is known for her dexterity, innate artistry, and design sense. Rachel’s work has been featured in numerous national media outlets such as The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Huffington Post Weddings.
Floral Designer & Plant SpecialistPluck the petals and spread them out on top of paper towel or sand on a tray or large dish. Then, keep them in a dry area that has good air circulation. -
QuestionHow long will rose petals last?
Community AnswerRose petals can last for weeks, depending on how you treat them. If you give them food and fresh water every day or two, they should last a while. -
QuestionIf you put the petals back in the water, what happens to the petals?
Isla SCommunity AnswerNothing much happens. They become soggy and eventually wilt. If you want to preserve them, just keep them in the water in the first place!
Things You'll Need
- Vase
- Airtight container
- Paper towel
- Refrigerator
References
- ↑ https://www.finegardening.com/article/tips-for-cutting-garden-roses-to-bring-them-in-the-house
- ↑ Rachel Cho. Floral Designer & Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=110
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=41
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=68
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=77
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=117
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=150
- ↑ Rachel Cho. Floral Designer & Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.
- ↑ Rachel Cho. Floral Designer & Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=132
- ↑ Rachel Cho. Floral Designer & Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.fiftyflowers.com/blog/fresh-rose-petals-care-and-handling/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSdaFS24DA&feature=youtu.be&t=139
- ↑ https://www.fiftyflowers.com/blog/fresh-rose-petals-care-and-handling/
About This Article
While rose petals can be a lovely decoration for weddings, parties, and table arrangements, you’ll want to keep them fresh by picking them at the right time and storing them in the refrigerator. Before picking your roses, water the plant the night before to make sure they’re well hydrated. Cut flowers early in the morning before the day heats up, which can dry the petals out. After cutting your roses, put them in cool water until you’re ready to pluck the petals. Use slightly closed rose bloom for petals since these will last longer. After you pluck the petals, place them on top of a wet paper towel that’s lining a plastic container. Once you have a layer of petals, close the lid and put the container in the refrigerator. You can store your petals this way for 3 to 7 days. To learn how to dry your rose petals for potpourri, keep reading!
