The are lots of factors that determine the durability of roses. Here is an explanation of the
factors that are important before you can buy the roses.
It all starts with the cultivation. Roses that are exposed to different weather conditions are
getting stronger due to it. A week of sun while growing is better for the durability than a
week of dark and rainy weather. Colder nights are better for the durability than warm nights.
18 hours of light is better than 24 hours of light (this can be applicable by using artificial
light)
Why is that? A leaf has stomata which regulate the vaporization of the plant. The stomata
can open and close. If the stomata are always open, they become lazy and have more
difficulty closing under bad circumstances. Because of this, the rose evaporates more water
than it can absorb, which causes the rose to droop.
Different weather conditions and the right way to cultivate prevent that the stomata
become lazy and the durability of the roses will be better.
The treatment after harvesting:
After harvesting, the roses need to be put into the water as soon as possible. Before a rose is
able to go into a vase, it has to rest and absorb lots of water in a cold storage room for at
least one night. Dutch roses are always taken to the auction in buckets with a layer of water.
It doesn’t matter if it goes to the auction, the florist or the consumer, what’s important is
that a rose can’t be left without water for too long. Dry transport is always at the expense of
the durability. Nowadays, 70 – 80% of the roses are cultivated in Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia).
These roses are transported dry, by truck, plane and then truck again to their destination
(mostly the auctions in the Netherlands). It is obvious that this isn’t great for the durability
and it is the main reason for a bad vase life. Altough, some roses can handle it better than
other roses.
Not all roses are the same:
Every variety of roses have their own characteristics and their own durability. One rose is
simply stronger and less sensitive to conditions than the other rose. By cultivating and
transporting the roses the right way, you can try to make them last longer, but a variety that
already has a bad durability will never get a great durability. A selection of the right varieties
and the right way of cultivating and transporting is essential to get an excellent durability!
The goal of Longerliferoses is to release roses on the market so that the consumer will not
get dissapointed after purchasing roses.