Question
You have mentioned "indoor bouquets" in your Profile. I am not in Zone 7 but I am curiuos what techniques you may be using for your "indoor bouquets"? I think this could be applied anywhere. Also, just out of curiousity, what rose(s) do you cut for the "indoor bouquets?"

Answer
Flowers have different requirements for vase life.  Some just won't last.  Among Roses, several are infamous for their tendency to drop petals before you even walk across the yard to the house.  Make sure your Rose is not one of those!

Timing is crucial.  Cut in the morning.  You'll get the best fragrance and vase life.  Blooms that are almost fully open will do best.

I use a razor blade to slice the stems with minimal damage.  A clean, perfect cut will readily take up water from the vase.  If possible, the cut will leave three leaves on the stem.

Plunge the Roses as you cut them into a bucket of warm water.  Cutting them under water is best -- it keeps air pockets from entering the stem and slowing water uptake.

Make sure there are no leaves below the water line; bacteria will grow, the leaves will rot, and bloom life will be shortened considerably.

There are as many formulas for preserving Roses as there are recipes for brownies.  There's the usual packets of floral preservative.  Some people pour soda into the water.  The point is to inhibit bacterial growth while sustaining the bloom.  A splash of Bleach in the vase will effectively kill germs that shorten bloom life; sugar contributes carbohydrates, at least theoretically.

Since Roses are EXTREMELY susceptible to Ethylene Gas, change the water at least on a daily basis.  If you have used Bleach as a preservative, watch out for little splashes as you change the water.

NEVER display them on a sunny window.   Some people think the light is good for them.  The only thing UV will do at this point is wilt them.  

Keep them cool.  But not too cool.  Refrigeration minimizes any fragrance on the bloom.  

Every day, cut the stems at the bottom to renew the abiliy to get water.  Placing them in a nice, warm bucket of water for an hour and letting that water cool in the vase will contribute to bloom life.

The David Austin English Roses are stunning -- on the bush.  But they will not survive in a vase more than 3 or 4 days.  With care, you can get at least a week of vase life out of your favorite Rose.

Thanks for writing.