This document provides information on caring for and handling cut flowers to maximize their vase life. It discusses factors that cause premature wilting, the chain of handlers involved in transporting flowers, rehydrating and pulsing techniques, preventing effects of ethylene gas, guidelines for receiving and conditioning flowers, storing at proper temperature and humidity, and examples of care experiments. The goal is to educate on best practices for maintaining optimal quality from harvest to final delivery.
3. Why flowers wilt and die prematurely
๏กStem diameter and thickness
๏กGenetics
๏กInability of the stem to absorb water
๏กLack of carbohydrates
๏กExcessive transpiration
๏กBacterial growth and disease
๏กEthylene gas
๏กImproper surrounding conditions
4. The Chain of Life
๏ฌ The Chain of Life-a long chain of handlers
involved in moving the floral product from the
greenhouse/field to the design bench
๏ก Grower- harvest flowers and ship them to an auction
๏ก Broker-receives large quantities from foreign countries and
domestic growers
๏ก Shipper-ships by air or truck to wholesalers
๏ก Wholesaler-receives flowers from brokers and growers;
conditions flowers and sells to retail florists
๏ก Florist-receives flowers from wholesalers and local growers;
conditions flowers and sells and delivers flowers to consumers
๏ก Customer-receives flowers as a gift or purchases them for
personal enjoyment
6. Chemical Treatments
๏ฌRehydrating
๏กAdd hydrating solution to water after harvesting
plant material
๏ฌencourages water absorption and maintains turgidity
๏กRepeat if cut flowers transported out of water
๏กrehydrate with clean, good quality water
๏กUse a biocide and or an acidifier
7. Chemical Treatments
๏ฌPulsing-method of conditioning in which
fresh cut plant material is in a particular
solution for a certain time
๏กcontains sugars like sucrose
๏กgiven with growth regulators
๏กused to inhibit bacterial growth
๏กimprove product quality during shipping &
storage to extend the ultimate vase life of the
flowers
๏กimportant to know about how the product has
been cared for along its journey
8. Chemical Treatments
๏ฌPreventing the effects of ethylene gas--
๏กEthylene
๏ฌnaturally occurring plant hormone
๏ฌinvolved in the aging process
๏ฌreleased as an odorless, colorless gas
๏ฌextremely harmful to cut flowers
๏ฌproduced by ripening fruit & vegetables,
decomposing plant material, bacteria, and burning of
gasoline, diesel fuel, firewood, and tobacco
๏กTreatment-silver thiosufate solution
9. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌOn receiving cut plant material:
๏กOpen and unpack immediately
๏กAllow the produce to breathe
๏กCheck name, quantity, & price against invoice
๏กRemember correct plant & variety name for
future reference
๏กCheck quality and look for damage
10. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌBegin re-cutting and conditioning
immediately
๏ฌUse properly sanitized buckets
๏กBacteria shortens the lifespan of cut flowers
and foliage.
๏กSanitize knives, cutters, work surfaces, coolers
& buckets.
11. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌFill the buckets with six to eight inches
of clean, lukewarm water.
๏ก100-110 Degrees F
๏กWarm water will encourage the development
and opening of the plant material.
12. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌAdd a correctly measured amount of
the appropriate floral preservative to
clean water and make sure that it is
well dissolved.
๏กFloral preservative doubles the vase life of cut
flowers.
13. Floral preservative ingredients
๏ฌ Sugars
๏กcarbohydrates to nourish
๏ฌ Biocides
๏กinhibits the growth of microorganisms
๏ฌ Acidifiers
๏กlowers pH levels
๏ฌ Growth regulators
๏กto increase the vase life of some flowers
๏ฌ Wetting agents
๏กto aid in water absorption
14. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌRemove any foliage that will be below
the water line
๏กDiscourages bacterial growth
๏กavoid damaging the stemโs skin when stripping
๏ฌjuices from stem causes extra bacterial growth
15. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌ Cut 1-3 inches off the bottoms of the stems
๏กRe-cutting exposes fresh, healthy tissue to better
uptake water
๏กCallusโouter cells surrounding cut that dry out-
preventing uptake
๏กrepeated cutting under the same water can pollute
with accumulating debris and bacteria
๏กcut the plant stem at a 45-degree slant using a knife
๏ฌ exposes a maximum area of clean, open cells
๏ฌ keeps the bottom of the stem from resting flat on the bottom
of the bucket, further impeding water uptake.
16. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌ If a product has not been pre-treated, do so
by placing or dipping into an appropriate
hydrating solution.
๏ฌ Place flowers into buckets containing warm,
pre-mixed nutrient solution.
๏ฌ Prevent unnecessary handling
๏กDirt or salt and sweat on the hands can easily stain and
leave permanent damage on delicate plant surfaces.
17. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌCondition the product
๏กLeave product to recover and acclimatize for
several hours
๏กProduct becomes fully hydrated
๏กEncourages bud development
18. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌStore product at the right temperature
and humidity
๏กA lower temperature slows the respiration rate
of cut plant material
๏กStorage temperature--36-38 degrees F
๏กTropical plant materialsโstore 55-60 degrees
F.
๏กHumidity--minimum of 80%
19. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌ Rotate stock
๏ก Always practice the โFirst In, First Outโ rule.
๏ฌ Maintain proper care and handling practices at the
design bench
๏ก Use plant material sensibly and pay attention to its needs
and its destination.
๏ก Soak floral foam and bouquet holders in clean water with
nutrient solution
๏ก Keep cut flowers in water rather than laying them on the
bench
๏ก Include a packet of floral preservative with wrapped flowers
and hand tied bouquets.
๏ก Include care instructions with flowers that are delivered.
๏ฌ
20. General Guidelines on Care and
Handling
๏ฌ Keep up with regular maintenance
๏กRemove dead flowers
๏กRemove empty buckets and clean carefully
๏กChange the water in the buckets and replace with the
correct cut flower food
๏กRe-stock partly filled buckets from flower stock
21. Care and Handling
of Floral Arrangements
๏ฌ Care tag
๏ฌ Replenish water preservative solution
๏ฌ Misting
๏ฌ Remove wilted and re-cut or discard
๏ฌ Keep away from ethylene sources
๏ฌ Keep out of direct sunlight
๏ฌ Avoid warm sources (TV, microwave)
๏ฌ Avoid drafts
25. Care and Handling Experiments
๏ฌSome of the home remedies added to the
water were:
๏กBleach and lemon-lime soda
๏กListerine
๏กSugar and vinegar
๏กLemon juice, sugar, bleach
๏กAspirin and a penny
๏กClear water
26. Care and Handling Experiments
๏ฌSome of the preservative solutions added
to the water were:
๏กFloralife preservative solution
๏กNutriflo preservative solution
๏กAqualplus preservative solution
27. Care and Handling Experiments
๏ฌSome of the methods of cutting the stems
were:
๏กUnderwater
๏กIn the air
๏กCrushing stems
๏กCutting with scissors
๏กCutting with knife
๏กCutting with pruners
๏กNot re-cutting the stems
28. Care and Handling Experiments
๏ฌSome methods of storing plant material:
๏กCooler vs. room temp
๏กAny variable temperatures
๏กStore on a microwave or TV
Editor's Notes
Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.
Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.
Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.