Tinted Roses: People are Snapping up These Classic Roses With A New Twist
- Tinted Black Roses
Would you send that special someone a black rose? Maybe not. But plenty of people are buying them, along with blue, green, lavender, orange, and bi-colored roses. While roses are beautiful as made by Mother Nature, sometimes some man-made enhancements add pizzazz to a bouquet, decorate a theme party, or just make a statement. This may be why many are snapping up these eye-catching creations.
Rainbow Roses
These specialty roses can be made in a variety of ways. In the simplest way, food coloring is used to dip dye roses or can be added to a small squirt bottle in order to create a lovely pattern. However, some South American growers have employed more advanced technologies to create this effect. In Ecuador, for example, flower companies employ proprietary techniques using organic dyes to produce a designer rainbow of colors and patterns. Most amazing are the multi-colored roses that feature multiple hues in a single flower.
It’s possible to do it yourself with a knife and vegetable dye. First, you start with a bunch of plain white roses. Make sure to keep them out of water for a short period of time (a day should suffice) so they get nice and thirsty. Remove all leaves, except the ones near the top of the stem, and any remaining thorns. You might want to use gloves for this part or you risk getting a nasty prick to the fingers. After the roses have been cleaned of leaves and thorns, cut the stems diagonally so that the inside is exposed. Then pop your roses into a mixture of water and food coloring. The blooms will gradually absorb the dye and voila! You have created your own tinted roses. It’s not too unlike dying Easter eggs.
Black and Red Roses
If DIY isn’t your thing, you can order the professionally tinted roses. Because of their popularity, tinted roses now cost little more than the classic varieties that have enchanted people since the days of ancient Persia, where they are said to have originated. South American growers are producing stunning varieties of different kinds of flowers. When you see their amazingly intricate designs, you can tell these makers thoroughly enjoy exploring their creative sides with a host of tinted rose offerings.
The rich, volcanic soil of the Andes Mountain foothills, 350 plus days of sunshine and temperate climate all combine to make ideal conditions for rose growing in Ecuador. Sales of tinted roses from Ecuador alone have exploded since the 1980s. Of course that number pales in comparison with the total rose industry. According to Smart Asset, $34.3 billion is made yearly in the flower industry. $1.9 billion of that is made on Mother’s Day alone. It’s safe to say that a majority of that is generated from the sale of roses.
South American growers are beginning to take steps to ensure that their large flower farms employ sustainable agricultural practices. One way they’re incorporating these green practices is by using organic dyes for their tinted roses. Working conditions and practices are also improving in the wake of various campaigns highlighting the poor wages and working conditions in Latin American flower fields, particularly in Colombia. With steady improvements, however, you can be sure that the roses you send are farmed humanely.
While the classic red rose is always a mainstay of romantic gestures, going with a specialty tinted rose is a bold, unique move that your loved one will never forget.
