3 Ways to Repurpose Your Rose Bouquet

Receiving or buying a beautiful bouquet of roses is always special. But what do you do when the flowers start to wilt? Instead of tossing them out, you can repurpose them and give them new life. Here are three simple ways to make the most of your roses.

Give Your Roses a Second Life with Gardenize

When your bouquet starts to fade, it doesn’t have to end up in the trash. With a little creativity, you can reuse the flowers and enjoy them even longer. Try these three smart ways to repurpose your roses—by growing new plants, making luxurious skincare, or creating beautiful decorations.

1. Propagate Your Cut Roses

Did you know you can grow new rose plants from cut roses? While it doesn’t work every time, it’s a fun and rewarding experiment. With a bit of luck, you might successfully grow your own rose bushes from cut flowers. To improve your chances, consider using rooting hormone, available at most garden centers. It’s also a good idea to take multiple cuttings so at least one takes root.

How to Propagate Roses from Cuttings:

1. Use sharp pruning shears to remove the flower and the top two leaves from the stem.
2. Make a diagonal cut just below the third set of leaves from the top and carefully remove them.
3. Fill the bottom of a pot with potting soil or compost, then top it off with sand.
4. Insert the cuttings deeply into the sand, ensuring they don’t touch the soil.
5. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to retain moisture or place it in a mini greenhouse.
6. Once the cuttings sprout new shoots, transplant them into individual pots.

2. Make Your Own Rose Water

Rose water is a luxurious treat, and making it yourself feels even more special. This fragrant, pink-hued water has many uses—both in skincare and the kitchen. It’s fantastic as a facial toner, helping soothe redness and irritation from sun exposure thanks to its antibacterial and calming properties. In cooking and baking, rose water is a classic flavor enhancer, essential in desserts like baklava.

How to Make Rose Water:

1. Gather fresh or wilted rose petals and rinse them gently.
2. Place them in a saucepan and add water.
3. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes until the water turns pink and fragrant.
4. Strain the rose water and let it cool.
5. Pour into a clean glass bottle and store in the fridge.
6. Use within a week for the freshest results.

3. Dry Rose Petals or Whole Roses

Dried roses are both beautiful and versatile. You can use them for bouquets, wreaths, or fragrant potpourri.

How to Dry Roses:

• Whole Roses: Trim off the green leaves and hang the roses upside down in a dark, dry, and cool place. After a few weeks, they will be completely dry.
• Rose Petals: Spread petals on a mesh screen or a kitchen towel and let them air dry at room temperature. They should be ready in a few days.
• Oven Drying Alternative: Spread petals on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Set the oven to 120°F and dry for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally. Keep the oven door slightly open to allow moisture to escape. If you have a dehydrator, that works just as well.

So next time your roses start to wilt, don’t throw them away! Instead, give them a second life—whether as new plants, luxurious skincare, or fragrant decorations. Repurposing roses is fun, creative, and great for the environment.

Get more garden inspiration here: