Does Sugar Prolong the Life of Roses?

Sugar's Role in Roses

The role of sugar in a flower is to provide energy. All parts of a plant need it. Before a flower is cut, it absorbs energy from the sun and converts it to energy. Once a rose is cut, and placed in water, its stems then only absorb salts and water, according to the Botany Department at the University of Toronto.

The University of Minnesota Extension explains that sugar, sucrose, is an important ingredient found in commercially made floral preservatives. The other two components of the preservative are an acidifier and a respiratory inhibitor. In this mixture, sucrose provides energy for a flower and aids in its longevity. The extension highly recommends only using commercially-made preservatives, because it is a complex chemical, and not defaulting to homemade solutions, such as sugar water.

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County contend that if cut flowers are properly prepared and added to water that contains a preservative to ward off fungi and bacteria, then adding sugar will help to open and extend their life.

Both the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County and the University of Minnesota Extension do both agree that there are some measures to take to prolong the life of roses, which include cutting the stems, removing about 1 to 2 inches at an angle, to improve water absorption; removing any excess foliage; placing the flowers in a clean vase and checking the water level daily; and keeping them in a room or area where the temperature is moderately cool, not on top of televisions or other sources of heat.