It is no fun being stuck for a special gift for Valentine’s day, Mother’s day or a wedding anniversary, so at least we can all fall back on the tried and tested hardy perennial that is a bouquet of roses.

Roses can be romantic or summer fresh, they can convey meanings as varied as the various types of rose allow. They come in all kinds of colors, from traditional reds through to pinks, yellows, oranges and whites. There are roses that look as if they are crossed with carnations (such as some variety of wild rose), and some that have large blooms, or small, compact ones.

For some, the only reason to buy a bouquet of roses is romance. Roses are often seen as something that has uniquely romantic qualities when offered to the special someone in your life. Simply imagining a luxurious bouquet of deep red, velvety roses, with a net of white gypsophila to accent the flowers can instill an immediate sense of the romantic.

Even a single red rose, delivered in an appropriate manner carries a romantic undertone that has been known to get the girl more than once. Many marriage proposals also come accompanied by a single rose; usually with a ring secreted in the petals.

Not Just for Romance

Of course, there is much more to this flower than just romance. One wouldn’t give red roses as a Mother’s day gift, for example. For non-romantic, but otherwise special occasions of this kind, a large bloomed pink or yellow rose is more appropriate, usually accompanied by a tapestry of other spring or summer flowers in various colors.

In fact, the rose is the one flower that is guaranteed to be in season, or at least available, throughout the year, meaning that many florists base different seasonal color variations around roses of the same color.

For example, a yellow rose can be placed alongside the blue hues of butterfly asters, for a summery bouquet, or alongside red or orange alstroemeria for something that has rich autumnal tones.

There are even purple roses, white roses, and blue roses, all of which make exceptional additional flowers in a bouquet that is based around less expensive varieties such as lilacs, orchids or tulips. In fact, the addition of a few roses can lift the perceived value of a bouquet considerably.

Roses are, however, reasonably expensive when placed alongside other flowers of similar sizes, and so tend to be more of a centerpiece to a bouquet. Only for those going for the ultimate rose effect will buy a bouquet that consists almost entirely of roses.

There may be those who tend not to give roses for the very reason that they do not wish to spend so much money on a flower that will wilt and die, and will tend to opt for cheaper flowers in a bouquet.

Potted Plant Varieties

These days, the power of online florists has given us an alternative – real live roses in pots or ready for planting in a garden. Here, there are miniature varieties that can be grown indoors, in little pots, and outdoor varieties that will grow into a large bush.

A small rose bush can often be used as part of a larger flower arrangement, either in a basket, or bouquet. This way, the recipient gets a wonderful assortment of cut flowers, alongside a potted plant that will outlive the bouquet – romance and longevity in a single package.

Colors and styles vary – miniature bushes can be found that are pink, red, yellow or white – but some of the most attractive are small bushes atop a large, almost trunk-like stem. These make excellent ornamental bushes, and are usually available in red or pink. They do need to be trimmed, however, unless they are being grown for the express purpose of planting outdoors.

Once outdoors, some varieties can be persuaded to climb up walls, and if the recipient has a garden, and seems to like the idea of climbing, or rambling roses, then a gift of such a plant can make an excellent alternative to an extravagant bouquet, for about the same price.

Bouquet Care

It would be a shame not to try and extend the life of the bouquet as long as possible, so if you are lucky enough to receive a bouquet of roses, there are a few tips that should be adhered to in order to be sure that they last as long as possible.

Firstly, the ends of the flower stems tend to close up when submerged in water for any length of time, because pockets of air can form inside the stem. Since it is impossible to know the care that the florist took of the flowers, or how long they have been in transit, the first step towards longer life for the bouquet is to cut the ends off the stems before putting the flowers into a vase.

In fact, the ends should be re-cut each time the water is changed. Ideally, this should be every two to three days, mixed with a little plant food each time. The bouquet should have come with some cut flower food, but if not, it can be obtained from a local florist.

Again, when the bouquet first appears, check that there are no leaves that will be under water when the bouquet is placed in a vase. If there are, then they should be removed, part of the problem with cut flowers in vases is that bacteria can form in the water, which is then drawn up into the stems, and will cause the flowers to wilt.

Anything that can be done to minimize this should be—which includes cutting off any leaves that will be under water. Remember that as you remove ends of the stems each time the water is changed, the leaves at the other end, previously out of the water, may well end up submerged and should be removed.

Finally, always use clean vases or other containers, especially when changing the water. If a clean vase is used each time, then the lifespan of the bouquet will be extended as far as possible.

These tips apply to any bouquet, and not just to roses, but roses are amongst the fussiest of flowers, and the most beautiful.

Growing Potted Roses Indoors
Miniature rose plants also have reasonably specific care tips that can be followed to ensure that they live as long as possible. The first thing to remember is that roses like sun. Where possible, 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight will ensure that they keep their vibrant colors and lush green leaves.

They also do not like to have their roots submerged in water. So, it is important to avoid over watering miniature roses. Having said that, they do need to be kept moist, so watering them will always be a delicate balance between too much and too little.

The best way to make sure that you are not giving them too much water is to only water the roses when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. The water can be mixed with a little soluble fertilizer. Finally, pruning the faded flowers can encourage new ones to form, which is a simple case of pulling them off with ones fingers.

About the Author:
Guy Lecky Thompson is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers regarding Flowers, Lilies, Spring flowers, Tulips, Roses, Tropical and Exotic flowers and Gift Baskets. His many articles give information and tips to help people save money and make smarter decisions.