Did You Know That Removing Rose Thorns Can Actually Shorten Their Vase Life?
Written by Petal Perfection Flower Company
Roses are probably one of the most recognizable flowers in the world, but there's a good chance you've been told something about rose care that isn't quite right.
Did you know that removing the thorns from roses can actually damage the stem and shorten the life of your flowers?
It sounds strange because removing rose thorns has been common practice for years. However, those little thorns are actually part of the rose stem, and aggressively stripping them away can create wounds in the stem.
Those damaged areas can provide opportunities for microorganisms to enter the stem and interfere with water uptake.
At Petal Perfection Flower Company, we don't simply grab a pair of scissors and start stripping every rose before putting it into an arrangement. Professional flower care is about understanding how each flower behaves and treating it accordingly.
So Should You Never Remove Rose Thorns?
Not necessarily.
If a thorn is going to interfere with handling or presentation, it can be carefully removed. The key is how it is removed.
A florist may leave many of the natural structures on a rose stem intact rather than aggressively scraping the stem.
And there's another reason we pay attention to rose stems: water uptake.
Fresh roses need access to water through the vascular system inside the stem. Damaging that stem can work against the very thing we're trying to accomplish—keeping your roses hydrated and extending their vase life.
So the next time someone says, "You need to strip all the thorns off those roses," you can tell them:
Did you know? Those thorns may actually be helping your roses stay healthier?
At Petal Perfection Flower Company, careful flower conditioning is part of what we do before your fresh flower arrangement ever reaches your home.
