refrigerator for several days. If you have a frost, free refrigerator to store your blooms and start cutting a few days
before the show, select blooms that are a little more than half open,
not quite to exhibition stage. They will move some in the refrigerator and when they warm up at the show. If your
refrigerator is frost free, cover the blooms with a baggie or use a rose keeper.
The size of the bloom will determine a lot in how long to cut the stem. Remember you can always shorten it at the
grooming table. The length of the stem should be in proportion with the bloom and foliage. The amount of the stem above
the top of the vase should
be approximately equal to 3½ times the width of the bloom.
Not exhibiting - then do a thorough grooming by removing weak branches and heading back the others a little more than
is normal when cutting spent blooms. When pruning, remember the pruning procedure, make your pruning cuts at a 45
degree angle, ¼ inch above a bud eye at a five-leaflet leaf, on a section of stem at least the diameter of a pencil. There are
no guarantees when it comes to pruning roses, maybe this plan will work and maybe it won’t, but give it a try.
Clean and groom foliage. The more grooming you can do at home the better. So clean any residue on the foliage and trim
any torn or damaged leaves with sharp scissors as soon as you cut them. To clean the foliage, you can mix a small amount
of dish washing soap with water. Be very sure you wipe it off. Your entry can be disqualified for having foreign sub
stance on the leaves or bloom.
Arrive at show site early, get roses in vases on preparation table. Take your time. After the bloom has reached room
temperature (be sure the vase is full of water) inspect it to see if it needs additional grooming, such as removing a bad petal
and some shaping (moving some of the petals).
Organize your grooming kit to include soft cloths, small, soft paintbrush, shears, fingernail scissors, tweezers, rubber
bands, Exacto knife, knitting or crochet needles, propping material (plastic wrap, aluminum foil or floral sytrofoam),
pencils, extra entry tags, “Q-Tips” and “Handbook for Selecting Roses”.
As for the entry tags, it helps to have them prepared ahead of time at least with your name and address. This saves a lot of
time when you are trying to get as many roses entered as possible before the cutoff time. An ink stamp with your name
and address works well or pre-printed address labels you order or even the do-it-yourself type from your computer. Also,
have your Show Schedule handy to refer to for the specific Section and Class for your rose entry. The specimen will
display much better if it is straight in the vase. To accomplish this, use the propping material listed above (check schedule
to see what is permitted) around the stem but do not let it show above the top of the vase.
Enter floribundas, miniature and miscellaneous roses first, the hybrid teas and grandifloras last. This gives any tight
blooms you have a chance to open and the more advanced blooms a chance to go full blown.
BEST OF LUCK & HAVE FUN!!
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