Dying Valentine Roses w/ Food Colouring

What Colour Choices Say About Relationships

Do you know what gift you're getting the woman in your life this Valentine's Day? Roses are typically one of the most popular gifts of choice, but they can get predictable if you give red year after year. However, with a little time and creativity you can turn a typical rose into a beautiful personalized coloured rose.

Naturally, roses come in yellows, pinks, white, peach and more, but now you can have the whole rainbow by splitting the stem and dipping the separated pieces into coloured water. Wouldn't a bouquet of these make a great gift or table arrangement?

How to Cut and Dye a Rose

• Buy a white rose.
• Trim the bottom of the stem.
• Put a few squeezes of food colouring in water in separate cups.
• Make tiny cuts in the bottom of the stem from the centre out (make as many cuts as you have colours)
• Carefully put each part of the stem in each cup of colour until the petals start to absorb
• Alternate cups for desired colour.

The Meaning Associated with Rose Colours

• Lavender -- Enchantment and Uniqueness
• Orange -- Fascination
• Pink (Dark) -- Thankfulness, Friendship and Admiration
• Red -- Love, Respect and Courage
• Peach -- Modesty, Gratitude, Admiration and Sympathy
• Pink (Pale) -- Grace, Joy and Happiness
• Deep Red -- Beauty and Passion
• White -- Innocence, Purity, Secrecy, Silence, Reverence, Humility and (according to some sources) True Love
• Yellow -- Joy, Friendship, Jealousy, Hope and Freedom
• Black -- Farewell
• Red/White -- Unity or Engagement
• Yellow/Orange -- Passionate Thoughts
• Yellow/Red -- Congratulations
• Red Rosebud -- Purity and Loveliness
• White Rosebud -- Girlhood

How do Flowers Naturally Change Colour?

Flowers naturally loose water from their leaves and thus water is pulled up from the roots through tiny internal stems; this replaces moisture that has evaporated from the leaves. This is called transpiration. In flowers such as roses and daffodils, the transpiration is much quicker and noticeable, which is why they are the chosen flower for this craft.

Why is the Rose Associated with Valentine's Day?

Ever since St. Valentine risked his life to marry couples in 269 A.D, February 14 has been known as Valentine's Day. This date celebrates love and kindness and invites us to show it on this day especially, to our partner, friends, and family. In order to do this, many give gifts. In ancient mythology, it is believed that Eros was the God of Love; eros transposed spells the word rose.

If that isn't reason enough, who wouldn't want to get a beautiful rose on Valentine's Day, especially a rainbow one?