At some point in your life, you’ve probably tie-dyed a T-shirt for a creative activity on a lazy afternoon. Did you ever consider doing the same with roses? Tie-dying is one of the most fun DIY projects with flowers, and it’s relatively simple to do. These psychedelic roses make a phenomenal gift, but they’re also just a great way to brighten up your dorm room, living area or office space. Plus, there are endless possibilities for colors, meaning you always have new combination to try out.
Just follow this guide on how to dye roses:
- First, gather your materials. All you need are white roses, food coloring in whatever colors you desire, a pair of scissors, a razor blade or paring knife and a series of same-sized small jars. You can also use a popsicle mold instead of jars.
- Next you’ll need to make sure that your roses are the proper height so they can stand without falling over in the popsicle mold. After trimming the stems with your scissors, reach for the knife or razor blade to split the stem into halves. Keep slicing until you’re approximately 1 inch away from the bottom petals. It’s important that your blade or knife is sharp enough or you’ll have trouble splitting the stem and may even accidentally snap it off entirely. You can also split the stems into three of four segments if you’re able to – while a challenging feat, doing so will allow you to produce an even more striking tie dye effect.
- Pour water into the jars or popsicle mold compartments and add a few drops of your chosen food dye to each. Keep in mind that lighter hues like pale pink and yellow will have a subtler and more blended effect, while deeper and richer dyes like red and violet will look more dramatic and spotty.
- Now it’s time to give your roses some pigment. Place each half of the stems into two jars or compartments, making sure that each one has a different color dye.
- The hardest part will be waiting, but you’ll already begin to see some color begin to appear on the petals in just three hours.
- If you’re patient enough to let your roses sit there for longer, you’ll maximize the intensity of the hue. Within 24 hours, you’ll have truly stunning tie-died blossoms.
