How to Get Rainbow Roses

Have you ever seen beautiful bright single color dyed roses or multi-color rainbow roses and wondered if you can dye them yourself? Good news, you can and you’ll learn how to below. To set-up roses for the dyeing process, follow these steps:

Preparing Roses for Dyeing:

1. Selecting Roses: Choose fresh white roses with healthy petals. Avoid roses that are wilting or have damaged petals, as they may not absorb the dye evenly.

2. Preparing the Workspace: Set up a clean and spacious workspace. Lay down newspaper or a plastic sheet to protect the surface from any spills or stains.

3. Tools: Prepare a sharp pair of garden shears or floral scissors. You will also need a precise bladed knife like an X-Acto if you plan on making a rainbow pattern. Make sure they are clean and sanitized to prevent any contamination.

4. Trimming the Stems: Trim the stems of the roses at a 45-degree angle. This angle provides a larger surface area for water absorption, allowing the roses to take in more dye. Use a clean, swift cut to avoid damaging the stem.

5. Removing Foliage: Strip any leaves or thorns from the lower portion of the stem that will be submerged in the dye solution. Leaves left underwater can rot and promote bacterial growth, shortening the lifespan of the roses.

6. Hydration: After cutting, immediately place the roses in a container filled with fresh water. This helps prevent air bubbles from forming in the stem, which can impede water uptake and dye absorption.

Dyeing Process:

1. Preparing the Solution: Prepare a vase with water and floral dye. The dye should be mixed according to the instructions provided. Having different cups with different colors can be used to create the rainbow effect.

2. Cutting the Stems Again: You will now need to cut the stems again. If you just want your rose to have one color, trim the stems of the roses at a 45-degree angle. If you want a rainbow pattern, you will need to slice the rose stems with the X-Acto knife three to four inches along the middle of the stem. You need to turn the stem 90 degrees and do the same until you have four quarters of the rose stem cut.

3. Submerging the Roses: Place the prepared roses in the vase with the dye solution. Ensure that the cut stems are submerged in the water. If you want to do multiple colors, place each quarter in its own color dye.

4. Absorption Process: Over the next few hours or days, the roses will absorb the colored water through their stems. This absorption process will gradually tint the petals with the chosen colors.

5. Observation and Adjustments: Keep an eye on the roses as they absorb the dye. You can adjust the intensity of the colors by varying factors like the concentration of the dye solution and the duration of time the roses are left in the solution.

6. Rinsing and Cutting: Once the desired colors are achieved, remove the roses from the dye solution and rinse the stems under clean water. If you cut the roses in four parts for the rainbow process, trim them one last time near the ends of the cuts for a smooth end.

By following these steps, you can create stunning tinted rainbow roses that are sure to impress and delight. Experiment with different dye colors and techniques to achieve your desired results. Enjoy your beautiful floral creations!

The above process is quite complex, and if you’d like them already premade, you’re in luck. Vogue Flowers sells dyed roses in a variety of colors through out the year. Right now you can get a dozen rainbow roses delivered to someone special or you can come by the store and pick up a stem or even a dozen.  

How do hydrangeas come in so many colors?  Guess what, it starts in the soil.  Read more here.