Rose Stripper

A rose stripper is an easy way to remove thorns. It will definitely improve your arrangements.

Why to remove….

Thorns and leaves can hold a lot of bacteria and dirt. Unless of course unless you've got some thornless varieties! When you cut flowers and put them in a watered vase, the germs and grime can leave a film and darken the water. Ideally, you want clear water to improve the overall look of your arrangement.

Removing the thorns can also allow you to put more stems in the vase, increasing the fullness of the arrangement.

What to use….

You can use a knife or just your hand to clear the stems down, although it takes some skills and obviously, can be painful! You can easily tear away chunks of the stem and this can hurt the appearance and longevity of your cut roses.

A rose stripper is a tool specifically built for thorns. You simply glide the device down the length of the stem as far down as you need to clear leaves and thorns. It can be a metal device, a specially designed glove, or even a patch. Find a method that you are comfortable with. Even with this, you need to use care so as not to sever the stem. Its best to practice a little bit on some dead canes before you try on the real thing.