Question
I recieved a dozen red long stem roses for the first time in my life at the office and they were sent by a very special man. Which is why I would like to know if there is a way to keep them looking real w/out the hanging out to dry look I've done since high school. Maybe there is a spray out there or some thing to that nature and I was curious to see if you had any other suggestions. Thank you so much!

Stephanie


Answer
How very, very nice for you to get those, Stephanie.  The way to a man's heart is his stomach, the way to a woman's heart is through her flowers.  Roses!

I know the look you're thinking of.  There are really only a few choices that are better, and most unfortunately are less than ideal.  One is prohibitively expensive.  Another only lasts perhaps a year before the treated flower begins to wane.

Let's start w/ the expensive system: Freeze-drying.

Freeze-drying is the most effective way to preserve most flowers.  Brides straight from the church wedding clamor to throw one last pile of post-wedding money toward preserving for posterity the flowers they clutched while walking down the aisle those last, single moments.  And plenty of services are around the corner just waiting to take their money and make them happy.  

These women have just spent a bundle on a dress and the biggest party of their lives.  They don't mind a final splurge on Free-Drying.  Services that do this use a special, very expensive machine that dries and freezes flowers, simultaneously, at minus 40 degrees F.

This special equipment starts at $20K and up.  You probably do not have the kind of discretionary income that would allow a purchase of one of these units as an option.  The actual service itself is much less costly - but it is not cheap, as you will find out when you get onto some of these websites.  They are easy to find on the internet.  But not cheap.

The next-best drying technique involves use of Borax. Cut flowers are laid a stem at a time in one inch of household Borax.  Then you cover them completely with the Borax.  The container is stored in a warm, dark, dry place for 10 days, then lifted carefully to avoid breakage, and brushed gently
with an artist's paintbrush to remove all traces of powder. They are very fragile.

Silica gel is also sold for this purposes at crafts stores.

Flowers are placed on to of a 1-inch layer of silica in a microwave-safe container, then sprinkled, as described above, but with silica gel instead of Borax.  The container is placed in a microwave oven and "cooked" for about 3 minutes.  

At the end of the microwave cycle, the silica has changed from blue to rose-gray, an effect caused by the silica absorbing moisture.  the flowers are left to cool for one day.  

Finally, they are removed and a small brush is used to brush off any residual silica.  Sand is sometimes used instead of silica, but it is a heavy medium; flowers dried in sand are more prone to damage.  I thought the instructions on the website (home.ivillage.com/decorating/crafts/0,,739w,00.html) were quite helpful.

Some people dry flowers in their microwave oven, lieing them face up between layers of paper towels under the "Defrost" cycle for 3 minutes.  This is a fine technique for some flowers and not for others.

There is another method that really involves a vase of water placed in the dark, flowers standing in the vase, in a warm closet.  After water evaporates, the flowers are dried.  This method is popular with Hydrangeas.  It will however probably look closer to the look you want to AVOID.

Some flowers can be dipped in melted paraffin, then chilled in the refrigerator.  These flowers are stronger than some other methods.  But there is a distinct look to them that some people love, and some do not like at all.

I predict a wonderful candlelight dinner in your future -and surely there is one already in your past by now.  

Thank you for writing.  Keep us all posted.