When buying roses this Valentine’s Day, look for signs of freshness:

Buds that are robust but not open. Roses with tight buds and showing little color have been harvested too early and will not have as long a vase life as those with more developed buds.

Also look for signs of general freshness, plump, healthy leaves and intact stems.

The roses should be re-cut, at an angle, before being placed in a vase of warm water in which flower preserver has been added.

Don’t allow any foliage below the water line, to avoid bacterial growth, and change the water in a few days when it gets murky. Re-cut the stems at that time and add more flower preserver, or make your own with a teaspoon of sugar and two or three drops of bleach.