Floral Arrangement Care

1. Floral Arrangement Care

2. Importance of Long Lasting Arrangements • Pleased customers! • If arrangements wilt quickly customers will find another floral shop

3. Common Reasons for deterioration

4. Alkalinity • Water movement through flower is sped-up. • Remedy: Use a preservative to lower the pH to 3.5-4

5. Bacteria & Fungi • Clogs vascular system, decays flowers, produces ETHYLENE • Remedy: Use clean buckets, lower pH, keep cool, keep leaves out of water, recut stems

6. Air • Keeps water from moving up the stems • Remedy: Cut stems under water, use warm water, soak foam properly, do not “pull back” on stems when inserting into the foam.

7. Low Nutrition • Flowers starve • Remedy- Use preservative, replenish preservative every few days

8. High Temperature • Increases bacteria growth, increases metabolism • Remedy- store in cooler temperature, out of sunlight

9. Low Humidity • Flowers dry out/wilt • Remedy- maintain 90% humidity in the cooler, cover greens, use “crowning glory”

10. Preventing Deterioration

11. Preventing Deterioration • Floral stems are partially blocked when arriving at floral shop. Caused by using dull equipment. • Air, bacteria enter the stem and block the xylem. • Why is this a problem?

12. Preventing Deterioration • Plants travel without water, transpiration occurs, Water is lost by the plant= wilting occurs. • Rate of transpiration is decreased in lower temperature & high humidity.

13. Preventing Deterioration • Plants still need food! Process of photosynthesis still occurs after flowers are cut. Provide with sugar & sunlight.

14. Preventing Deterioration • Keep the refrigerator clean. • Botrytis is a fungus that causes decay on petals- caused by unclean coolers, allowing blooms to get wet.

15. Preventing Deterioration • Ethylene quickens maturity. • Remove damaged parts of the flowers, keep away from exhaust fumes

16. Conditioning Flowers

17. Conditioning Flowers • Conditioning- Techniques of treating flowers to extend their life.

18. What to do when flowers arrive • Wash buckets with cleaner • Mix preservative • Inspect for damage • Remove damaged flowers/foliage • Wash shears and recut stems under preservative water • Remove foliage that will be under water • Place in preservative water • Remove sleeves (except roses) • Allow to sit at room temperature- Absorb water • Place in cooler before use

19. Use Preservatives • Preservatives should include: • Nutrients • Lower the pH • Contain a Biocide- kills bacteria

20. Preservatives • Many commercial preservatives are available • Home recipe: • 50 % 50 % Sprite (citric acid) • 1-2 teaspoons of bleach • Nutrients, acid, biocide.

21. Antitranspirants • Transpiration causes a loss of water. • Prevent transpiration from occurring. Sprayed directly on the foliage/ flowers.

22. Maintain the Cold Chain • Growers • Shippers • Wholesalers • Retail Florist • Customer

23. Summary • Unpack quickly • Cleanliness • Provide water • Keep cool 36-40 degrees • Use preservative • Cut flowers under water • Remove damaged foliage/flowers • Antitranspirants