choosing and preparing flowers. when to buy flowers for arrangements at home, buy flowers that are...
TRANSCRIPT
Choosing and
Preparing Flowers
When to Buy Flowers For arrangements at home, buy flowers
that are still in a bud For flowers for an occasion, like a
wedding, buy flowers starting to open so they look best the day of
Healthy Roses Test the roses you want to buy by
squeezing the flowers where the petals meet the sepals
If the roses are firm, they will last longer that spongy soft ones
Sepal
Conditioning Condition as soon as possible to keep
foliage in peak condition for as long as possible
Strip excess leaves from stems Split ends of woody stems Hydrate in a bucket of cold water for an
hour before trimming stems and arranging
Splitting Stems First make a diagonal cut about 1 inch
from base of stem Encourages the stems to take up more
water to hydrate the flower heads Split ends with scissors Increases surface area of plant cells so
stems take in more water
Insider Tips Remove anthers from flowers such as
lilies to prevent stains and allergies Gently remove anthers by pinching them
off
Insider Tips When using a clear vase, add a
sterilizing tablet or stir flower food into water and dissolve before adding flowers
This will keep water clear and kill bacteria
Insider Tips To encourage buds to open, take off
more leaves Fewer leaves on the stem will encourage
more water and nutrients to pass to the flower head
To open lilies, place stems in warm water, let cool, then repeat
Preserving Your Flowers
Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Low water absorption
Blockage of stems when flowers arrive at the florist
May be caused by cutting with dull shears or equipment that pinch the xylem
Bacteria or minerals sometimes clog the stem Air may enter the stem at the time of cutting and
cause wilting
Flower Stem
Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Loss of water
Flowers lose water through their leaves by transpiration
Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Loss of food
From photosynthesis
Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration
Disease Botrytis is a fungus
which causes brown spots on the petals Do not allow blooms
to get wet If they do, allow them
to dry before placing
Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Ethylene gas Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring gas in
flowers that hastens maturity Never store fruit with cut flowers Old, diseased, or injured flowers should be
removed from the cooler and the cooler kept clean
Proper Handling of Fresh Flowers1. Wash buckets with bleach or special floral
cleaner2. Mix preservative at the recommended rate in
100-105 degree water3. Inspect for damage, overheating, decay, etc.4. Groom and remove damaged flowers or
foliage5. Wash shears or knife and re-cut stems under
preservative and water. -Cut at a slant
Proper Handling of Fresh Flowers6. Remove all foliage that will be under water7. Place in preservative water8. Remove sleeves except on roses9. Allow to set out 1-2 hours at room
temperature10. Place in cooler for several hours before
using in arrangements