Thu 16 Jun 2016

How to make your own blue rose

When it comes to flower colours, your florist will usually offer a large number of fantastic, beautiful options. From pastels to bold shades of almost any colour you can imagine – they are all out there and waiting to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, there are some colours that are not all that easy to find in nature and, even then, your favourite flower might not be available in your colour of choice. Roses are a great example of this. They are available in many different colours but blue is not one of them. Fortunately, there’s a really easy way to make your own!

You will need:

  • Cream or ivory roses
  • Floral powdered dye (larkspur blue creates a lovely result)
  • One vase
  • One plastic jug or vase (use an old one since it might become discoloured)
  • Protective gloves (to protect your hands from the dye)
  • A sharp pair of scissors or knife

Instructions:

  • Choose your cream or ivory roses carefully. Contrary to your usual instincts, it’s best to look for flowers that have not been soaked in water. This will ensure that they are extra thirsty!
  • Prepare your roses by removing the thorns and placing them in an empty vase.
  • Mix the floral dye as per the instructions on the packaging. The more flowers you have, the more water you will use and this means more dye of course.
  • Trim the stems of the roses, one by one, and place the stems in the mixed dye.
  • Let the roses stay in the dye and absorb the colour. You will notice the first results after just 2 hours!
  • Don’t worry if the first results look “spotty” or “patchy”. As you give your flowers more time, the colour will even out.
  • After about 3 hours of soaking, you can trim the stems one last time to help them absorb the dye faster.
  • After a total of 5 – 6 hours of soaking, your blue roses will be ready to use!

Floral dyes are available in a wide variety of colours which means that you can use this method to create any colour you like! Just remember to protect your work surfaces or work outside if you’re worried about stains. Wear old clothing and protective gear like gloves too.