[Rose-list] waxing roses

**A* B* <a*@prairie.lakes.com>**

I snipped this from a newsletter some time ago and thought you all might 
be interested.  Sorry I don't know the original source.
Alicia

MECHANICS:  Waxing Roses
Supplies needed:
16 oz. can (empty)
1 quart saucepan
3 bricks (3/4 pound) paraffin
1 jar of water
Deep bowl of cold water
1.  Set up a double boiler & work near the stove.  Using knife & cutting
board, cut 3 paraffin bricks into 1/2" pieces.  Drop 2/3 of the pieces
into
the can.  Set can in saucepan and add water to the saucepan until half
full.
2.  Bring double boiler water to a boil then reduce to simmer.  Using a
stick
(chopstick will do), stir paraffin until liquefied.  Drop in more
paraffin
with the tongs & melt until can is 3/4 full.  Turn off heat.  When water
stops
simmering, hold rose upside down by stem & dip at slight angle into warm
liquid paraffin without touching rose to can and hold 2 to 3 seconds.
Remove
immediately, dip into bowl of cold water and lift out.  Clip stem to 2" &
set
upright in a stand (you can us cereal box, egg carton, etc.).  Wax all
roses &
buds in the same way reheating to liquefy paraffin whenever it becomes
dense
or cloudy.  Remove db. boiler from stove.  When roses have hardened at
least 5
mins., remove one by one from stand, then dip each stem into the warm
liquid
paraffin to seal cut end.  Let all roses harden 20 mins. or longer.
3.  Reheat paraffin as in step 2.  Holding each leaf cluster stem with
tongs,
quickly dip into warm liquid paraffin and remove, then lay flat on waxed
paper
until hardened--about 3 mins.
Tip:  Dip the roses into the wax at a slight angle instead of straight
down.
Air bubbles will release, indicating that the wax is coating the inside
petals.
Extra Info:  White roses slightly turn brown near the edges, a natural
result
of the moisture loss that waxing incurs.  Browning made the white roses
look
dingy & unappealing, but it actually enhanced the light pink and yellow
roses
giving them the antique effect found in Victorian velvet roses.  To
prevent
waxed stems from cracking and breaking during wiring, you may wrap them
in
florist tape first.  I have heard mixed responses on how long these
last--from
2 wks. to 2 mos.

_______________________________________________
rose-list maillist  -  rose-list@mallorn.com
https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/rose-list