Re: [Rose-list] waxing roses

**j*@uswest.net**

Hi everyone,
I did "wax" xome roses from Valentine's Day and they still look great!  I
also did a few
of the babies breath that came with them.  I cut the stems quite short and
bunched them in a small pot.  It really is nice>
Julie in Utah

Alicia Bayer wrote:

> 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.
>
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