1 / 33

Releasing your Inner Flower Expert

Learn from flower expert Gay Smith on key factors affecting flower quality such as production areas, variety choices, temperature management, Botrytis control, and ethylene exposure avoidance. Discover solutions for optimal flower longevity and customer satisfaction, including tips on handling, hydration, and flower food usage. Find out about specialized processing solutions for different flower types and debunk common urban myths in flower care. Enhance your flower expertise and ensure blooms stay fresh and vibrant longer.

clintonharris
Download Presentation

Releasing your Inner Flower Expert

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Releasing your Inner Flower Expert Gay Smith Chrysal technical manager Nov 2012

  2. Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity”oprah winfrey

  3. What affects Flower quality? • Production areas • Variety choices • Temperature management • Botrytis control • Avoiding ethylene exposure • Solution use

  4. For US mkt,80-85%are grown in Latin America

  5. Temperature is super-important! 1. Stem bending 2. Wilting -- Flower opening 3. Leaf yellowing/blackening 4. Bacteria explosions 5. CONDENSATION Cooler set point = 34-38F

  6. Botrytis- #1 disease challenge • Non-specific fungus disease • Needs water or high humidity • Spreads—cross-contamination • Lives on live and dead tissues • Gives off ethylene as it develops

  7. Examples of Botrytis

  8. Botrytis Control • Respect cold chain • Keep blooms dry • Work CLEAN!! • Allow breathing room in buckets • Careful handling—bruising predisposes flowers to infection

  9. Another challenge to longevity… Ethylene gas: • Naturally occurring ripening hormone • Deadly to flowers in minute amounts

  10. Ethylene Symptoms

  11. Internal and external Sources • Fruits, veggies & flowers • Combustion engine exhaust • Space heaters • Cigarette smoke, BBQs, fireplaces, • Bacteria, fungi • Wounds & bruises are triggers

  12. Avoid Ethylene Problems • Buy treated flowers • STS as first drink after harvest • Ethylene Buster for trucks & coolers • Don’t peel rose petals unnecessarily • Clean cuts, no ragged edges • No deco mosses in coolers • No lunches or food in coolers

  13. Bacteria = #1 reason stems get clogged Best line of defense? • Sanitation with a professional cleaner • Frequent sanitation • Sharp tools

  14. If you wouldn’t drink it or drink out of it, neither will your flowers

  15. Everything we do on the front end, maximizes vase performance & customer satisfaction!

  16. Are you a Stripper?…a peeler…a bit heavy-handed? Do you soak foam in flower food? Shifting gears: Flower Handling

  17. Flowers gotta drink!!

  18. What’s in Flower Food? • Acidifiers lower pH of tap water • Clarifiers keep pollution in check • Nutrients provide energy for opening and holding in vase

  19. VOCAB • Hydration solutions are all about clean flow (no sugar) • Flower foods boost flow, checks bacteria and supplies energy for buds to open

  20. Busting urban myths Aspirin Bleach Pennies Vodka Vinegar Sugar 7UP Boiling water

  21. Get your money’s worth!! a)Use COLD water b) make fast transfers c) Allow time for stems to fill d) Avoid stripping foliage e) Use the right solution for the right job f) Handle with care

  22. When “1 size fits all” doesn’t cut it • Hard to Hydrate flowers • Bulbous flowers • Dirty Flowers • Sugar lovers • Finishing Sprays

  23. For Hard to Hydrateuse Chrysal Professional #1 • Hydrangeas • Garden roses • Zinnias • Woodies • Lysimachia, Veronica • Pumpkin Trees • Berries • Anthurium

  24. Most versatile Processing solution • CHRYSAL Professional #2

  25. Specialty foods ~ Bulb Flowers Balanced hormones • Increase vase life • Color vibrancy • Foliage quality • All florets open

  26. Whacked-out hormones • Super-short vase life • Buds don’t open • Buds shrivel and drop • Foliage yellows FAST • Fading color

  27. SUGAR LOVERS need Professional #3 • Tuberoses • Protea • Lisianthus • Carnations • Peonies

  28. “Dirty” Flowersneed Professional Gerbera Pills

  29. Sprays Finishing vs. anti-transpirant Chrysal Glory Hawaiian Floral Mist

  30. Shiny is sexy! Dusty looks tired LEAF SHINE

  31. Of course you want to save! • Right solution for the job • Get the dose right • Quick transfers • Top-up w/ fresh solution. No ice • Never consolidate used solutions • Avoid ethylene • Never sell directly from the box • DRY, Dry, dry

  32. “Not all birds can fly. What separates the flyers from the walkers is the ability to take off.” Carl Sagan

  33. Thank-you!

More Related