Step 1. Immediately on receipt, open the box and give your roses attention. If you cannot attend to your roses immediately, open the box and place it in a cool dark place until you can take a few moments to properly care for your gift of roses. Place them in the refrigerator if you have space -- BUT NOT IN THE FREEZER!

Step 2. Remove any leaves that might be under water when you place the roses in your container. Be careful not to cut through, nor scrape, the green bark on the outside of the stem.

Step 3. Mix floral preservative in warm water (about 100F or 37.80C). Be sure to mix according to manufacturer's instructions. Place the solution in your vase. If you have some extra preservative solution, save it in a specially marked container to add to your roses later.

Step 4. With a sharp knife or shears, cut about an inch off the end of each stem. IMPORTANT: HOLD THE END OF THE STEM UNDER RUNNING WATER, OR UNDER WATER IN A CONTAINER, WHILE YOU MAKE THE CUT!!! This will avoid the stem-end drawing in air rather than water.

Step 5. As soon as the cut is made, place the rose in a clean, deep vase filled with warm preservative solution. If possible, then place the roses and container in a cool, dark room, or refrigerator, to condition them for 2 to 4 hours before arranging them.

Step 6. When you arrange them, do not let the roses lie out on a table. Keep them in your conditioning vase until you place them in your arrangement.

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