Blue roses – how to make your own

When it comes to getting creative with flowers, you don’t need to limit yourself to the usual colours. You can enjoy the most unusual combinations. One such example comes in the form of blue roses. They do not exist in nature but you can create your own in just a few simple steps. Here’s how.

What you need

• Cream or ivory roses (they will turn into blue roses when you’re done)
• A vase
• Floral powdered dye (larkspur blue creates a beautiful result)
• A plastic jug or vase (it will become discoloured so use an old one)
• Latex or plastic gloves
• A sharp pair of scissors

Directions:

• Take your time when selecting your roses. You want to make sure that they are not too well hydrated. You want them to be a bit more thirsty than usual so that they will really soak up all the water and floral dye.
• Mix your blue floral dye as per the instructions on the package. If you are colouring multiple stems, you will need to use more water and more dye.
• Trim the stems of your roses and place them in the vase or container with the dissolved dye.
• Allow the roses to sit in the vase and absorb all that colour.
• If you notice that your blue roses are patchy, leave them in the colourful water a little longer. Soon you will notice the colour start to even out.
• After the roses have set in the water for 3 hours, retrim the stems and place them back in the coloured water. This encourages more rapid absorption.
• It should take a total of 5 to 6 hours for you to achieve the desired result.

Remember, when creating blue roses, you should always use white or off-white blooms. If the flowers are any other colour, the results will most certainly not be to your liking. It’s also best to use blooms that are in partial bud form so that you can enjoy them for as long as possible.