I have tried many different icing recipes and I can't seem to find the right one that helps keep my flowers from cracking aroung the edges. Please help. Thank you for your help.

I would like to know to, I have the same problem. They look more like carnations than roses.

You might try thinning your icing a bit. You could also try to increase the pressure and squeezing out a little more icing at time.
It takes a lot of practise.... I used to sit down and make a few dozen roses at a time.... I would be happy to get 3 or 4 good ones! As I practised more, I gradually got more and more good ones out of each batch.
HTH

Melchas, are you using a wilton recipe? That's what I have been using and then trying different combinations of that recipe and still can't get the edges smooth.

Mme_k, do you use the wilton bc recipe?

Yes, i use the wilton recipe with half butter and half crisco. I am thinking of cutting the meringue powder in half and trying that. My cakes crust really easy which is great, but crack really easy too.

Okay so the cracking is from two things.

1. Not enough pressure when piping. We tend to pipe slow and turn the flower nail fast.

2. Too dry icing, which is not the same thing as too thick. My test for two dry is to take a little bit of the icing and roll it in to a ball. Now hold that ball between your thumb and your first finger. Squish with your first finger then lift it away. You want your icing to feel slightly sticky or tacky, but not actually come off on your finger. If it doesn't feel sticky at all, then your petals aren't going to want to stick to the base, and you will have cracking issues.

The fix for this, about a tablespoon of crisco for every cup of icing or about a teaspoon of piping gel. I don't measure these out with measuring spoons, just dump a little in, stir and retest.

I agree with TexasSugar... I know the pipping gel is key when making the flowers... good luck!

Awesome advice! I am going to try the piping gel. Thanks

Thank you TexasSugar, I appreciate the advice and I will give it a try.