Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a glorious bunch of roses. You put them in your best vase and you stand back to admire them. You'd love to make them last as long as you possibly can, but other than keeping them out of direct sunlight, you're not sure what to do.

Here are some tips on how to extend the shelf life of your roses:

1. Remove the roses from the vase and put them in a temporary container.

2. Clean the vase by washing it thoroughly in water with household bleach.

3. Fill the vase with fresh water and add a half teaspoon of household bleach for each litre (16 fluid ounces) of water.

4. Remove your roses from their temporary container and lay them flat on a counter top.

5. Remove any leaves which will show below the waterline in the vase.

6. Cut about 20 mm (3/4 inch) from the base of each stem immediately before placing it in the vase. This removes any air bubbles.

7. Don't place roses in drafts or direct sunlight, or near fruit, heaters, TVs or refrigerators.

8. Change the water daily to extend the vase life of your roses.

Freshly picked roses can last up to two weeks with a little extra care.

Enjoy!

Gerry Belvedere is a former artist who now runs her own online florist service at http://www.rosaflora-flowers.com. Rosaflora delivers flowers Australia wide and overseas and offers tips on getting the most out of your cut flowers.