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