Valentine's Day Roses Pt 3

Where the issue requires more discernment is in the finer details. If the price range seems to normal (a recent study indicates most florists will be retailing a dozen long stem roses at $75+) then you have to look further. Ask about the variety, the country of origin, petal count, how quickly the roses open, and the expected vase life.

Good roses should last 7-14 days in a vase, with fresh water and flower food. Given the right care and environment it’s not unusual for our customer to report roses lasting 3 weeks. Anything less than 7 days guaranteed vase life is a poor quality rose, indeed!

There are hundreds of rose varieties on the market today. Each variety has its own characteristics: some open quickly, some never open; some have round heads, long heads, high or low petal counts, and so on. Ask your florist what you are buying! Just because a rose opens quickly doesn’t mean it is old or past its prime. Many varieties are groomed to open quickly and then hold for several days.

The final determining factor is the choice of florist. Your florist ultimately decides whether or not they want to carry quality flowers. Do they want to compete on price, and compromise on the product? Or, do they want to provide quality and value for a reasonable price?

At Martin’s, the Flower People, we go to great lengths to ensure the quality of our roses. This starts with sourcing from the best grower in Ecuador, choosing only varieties with long vase life, even to the point of paying higher wholesale prices to get better product. Under no circumstances will we accept product that has been stockpiled weeks in advance of a holiday by a grower or wholesaler. When flowers arrive in our store they go through a lengthy unpacking and hydration process. Many florists skip this step to avoid the overhead costs.