Beauty is a fickle thing and subject to the merciless flow of time, like nothing else.
So, very often you want to make a gift that will be the embodiment of the current, glowing fire of feelings, but stops the fact that the fiery, bright red roses, quickly fade.
But what if you can extend the "life" of a flower? Make it almost eternal? Those who worked on these issues eventually created stabilized flowers.
What it is?
definition
At its core, stabilized flowers are those plants that either:
- They were coated with special substances that block their wilting and decomposition. In this case, the plant is rather similar to the flies in amber - the coating is hard and does not allow the flower to lose its shape.
- Completely changed their internal composition, due to the introduction in any way special chemicals. In this case, the plant is also considered rather dead, but all its internal components are impregnated with substances that make the fabric more durable and retain the natural color.
We offer to watch a video on what a stabilized rose is:
Appearance and photo
With proper stabilization, the flower is no different from other representatives of its species. In those cases when stabilization is done handicraft, there may be a slight change in the color of the petals and leaves.
How to stabilize the plant in production?
Read how eternal "live" plants do. The production of such flowers is a rather laborious process. In addition to growing a special variety of flowers with a dense stem and leaves, they must be prepared. For this, according to known data, the plants are cut and, after waiting a certain period of time (about a couple of hours), put in vats with a solution based on glycerol.
This is one of the most common ways, but here each company has its own secrets. The ratio of glycerin and water can vary, as well as other chemicals can be added - the exact secret is not known. Thereafter, the stem and leaves are rubbed with a specialized compound that will help preserve the rigidity of the tissues. Petals are subjected to a similar procedure, only there is added a perfume.
As a result, the flower retains the elasticity of the fabric, as well as its smell. Such flowers can stand for five to ten years, depending on the type of plant and compliance with storage conditions.
It should be noted that for each type of flowers has its own, slightly modified formula, verified for decades.
Is it possible to stabilize at home?
It is quite natural that many people want to try to preserve the flowers presented to them not only in the form of a rose-book dried between the pages. And someone initially wants to make such a long-running miracle.
There is such an opportunity. Prior to the disclosure of glycerol in the process There were several ways to save roses and other flowers from the effects of time..
Not the last role in such a desire is played by how much stabilized roses cost.
Suppliers in Russia
If you focus on the regions of Moscow and St. Petersburg, then you can select at least the following suppliers:
- Moscow. Surprisingly, despite the fact that this is the capital, the prices for stabilized roses here are quite democratic. Prices are at the beginning of the year 2019.
- Newflora. This company specializes in the sale of stabilized flowers, but mostly they are engaged in those flowers that are covered with a glass cap. Flowers without such a shell are sold individually and cost a little more than 1,700 rubles.
- Etoalflora. In this case, stabilized flowers are rather a pleasant addition to the assortment, but they are also cheaper, about 1000 rubles.
- Decoflor. Another Moscow representative, which is not much different from the previous manufacturer. Even the prices are the same.
- St. Petersburg. In the northern capital, flowers are more expensive. But then the diversity is higher than that of their metropolitan colleagues.
- Bouquet-Peter. A very large variety of flower buds, as well as different sizes of flowers. Prices go from 1,700 to 2,500 rubles.
- Flordel. This company has a large selection of stabilized plants, ranging from roses to ferns. In addition, they sell individual buds. Prices for roses, on average, about 2000 rubles.
- Vermont. Some of the creators of the technology itself, namely, their official representative in St. Petersburg. Mostly they sell roses in flasks or in bouquets. Bouquets of stabilized flowers cost from 4,400 to 12,500 rubles.
How much is stored?
Under the conditions, roses are stored for five to ten years. This is true for roses in a flask and for those that can be simply put in an empty vase or put on a shelf.
The fact is that roses are quite fragile flowers and therefore their the standard shelf life is exactly five years. - everything that comes after is already dependent on the storage conditions and properties of a particular flower.
Other plants may have a minimum term of eight years.
Step by step instructions: how to carry out the procedure yourself?
If you decide to stabilize the rose yourself, then below is a detailed instruction on various methods of stabilization.
Inventory preparation
You will need, in addition to roses, to have:
- Scissors, and better than a good pruner. This is necessary in order to periodically shorten the stem of the plant.
- Several containers where you can put a rose. Well suited bottles or cans. For one specific type of solution may need a basin.
- Long spoon or Chinese chopsticks to stir the solution.
- Stove or kettle. In one of the cases, it will be necessary to make a warm solution.
- Food coloring.
- Wax.
- Tweezers.
- Rope.
Creating a special solution on glycerin
- One-to-one solution. In equal proportions you need to mix glycerin and water.
- Two-to-one solution. In this case, the glycerol should be twice as large, the solution should be initially warm, due to the water.
How to make an eternal flower with your own hands?
With the help of solutions, roses stabilize in exactly the same way. - flowers are placed in a container with a solution and cleaned in a dark, cool place. There, the flowers will be soaked with glycerin and dyes for two to three weeks. Naturally, the solution must be periodically poured, and the stems are slightly cut at an acute angle. In the case of a two-to-one solution, it is necessary to wait for the liquid to cool to room temperature.
If you are interested in "Wax, tweezers and a rope" in the list of tools, then they belong to another, but no less reliable way to save the flower. The wax should be melted in a water bath and gently, using tweezers, put a rose there, slightly pritopiv. Then it is worth pulling it out and hanging it by the stem on a rope in a dark room until the excess wax is drained. The rose stored in a similar way is easily cleared of dust.
We offer to watch a video on how to create a stabilized rose with your own hands:
How to care for unfading flower?
- In all cases, stabilized roses are afraid of direct sunlight. In the first case, they provoke fading and evaporation of glycerin, and in the second they melt the wax.
- Wipe dust away very carefully, with a dry cloth or a soft dust whisk.
- Flowers stabilized with a solution should be protected from moisture, as this violates the concentration of glycerol in the tissues and reduces the shelf life of the flower.
How to extend the "life"?
To stabilize the rose longer you are pleased, as mentioned above, it is worth keeping it in a dry room, away from the rays of light. Also, you should not water it in any case. The reason is the same - water will break the concentration of glycerol.
Do not swing a flower, as some manufacturers, for a better view, "construct" roses from several parts of different flowers - unnecessary movements can spoil the flower.
Now you have the necessary knowledge about such an unusual and beautiful gift as a stabilized rose. Regardless of whether you yourself have saved the flower, or you have bought it from professional florists, this gift will be remembered by a person for a long time and will be a pleasant sight for years.
