Educating yourself about Rose Petals
Shopping for Petals
When shopping for rose petals, there are many things to keep in mind. First, you have to choose between fresh, freeze dried, and silk. What you plan to use them for will help determine what type is most appropriate. For any outdoor use, fresh or freeze dried petals are the most appropriate since they are a natural, biodegradable product. Freeze dried petals can be obtained well in advance, avoiding last minute worries. Also, the quality of fresh petals can degrade quickly and often do not look good by the time they are used. Freeze dried rose petals are preserved at their peak freshness for excellent quality.
For indoor use, silk or freeze dried petals are recommend for lining aisles since fresh petals can be slippery and stain. The flower girl could use any type of rose petal since they don't need a large quantity and the petals are not closely examined. For table decoration, freeze dried rose petals are preferred since they are an excellent conversation piece and are real, not artificial, giving a more elegant touch.
The cost of the types of petals can vary greatly. Silk rose petals are typically the least expensive and work well when large quantities are need for indoor pathways or to create a thick pillow of petals for table decorations. Freeze dried petals are more expensive than silk, but they are more realistic (because they are real petals!) Fresh petals can often be the most expensive option due to the need to de-petal the roses very soon before their use and the expense of overnight shipping if your florist is unable to provide them. (Start Shopping...)
Confused on how much to order? Check out our Quantity Recommendation Page
The Freeze Drying Process
The process of freeze drying rose petals takes a great deal of effort and skill to yield a quality product. We start out by working with importers to bring in the best roses available, typically from Colombia and Ecuador. We then cut and hold the roses until they open just right. Once they are ready, we pull the petals off one by one, separating the imperfect petals from the premium ones. Then the petals are cooled and loaded into a freeze drier to be dried.
The rose petals typically spend about 2 weeks in a freeze drier. They are first frozen to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit, then a vacuum pump draws all the air out of the chamber to a pressure similar to that of space. This extreme condition allows the water contained within the petals to pass directly from a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapor), a process called sublimation. Since we are able to bypass the liquid stage of water, the petal can remain in the shape it is frozen in without shriveling or decomposing. The temperature is gradually increased to about room temperature over two weeks, allowing all of the water contained within the petals to be removed. (Read More at our Quality Page...)
Common Myths
There is a lot of conflicting information on freeze dried rose petals. We've compiled some information that should help you understand them better so you can make an intelligent decision when purchasing your freeze dried rose petals. (Read More at our Myths Page...)