Post-Harvest Physiology Flower Processing Floral Design Ornamental Horticulture Plant Physiology

General Background Info: Fresh Flower Food Flower food contains: a bio-inhibitor like bleach to kill bacteria a sugar compound for the flower food helps flowers open an acidifier to maintain the pH level

General Background Info: Flower Plumbing Xylem & Phloem These are the tubes that move water and food products up and down the stem of the plant.

General Background Info: Old, Dead Flowers Ethylene This is the aging hormone gas from plants. It causes flower blooms to open. It can also cause premature aging of flowers.

When Flowers arrive: Processing Flowers Step by Step: When Flowers arrive: Processing Flowers 1. Debunch Take flowers out of plastic sleeves to release any ethylene gas. Cut open the bundles so the blooms have room to open and breath. 2. Cut & Clean Stems Make a fresh cut, about 1 inch from the bottom to provide a new water source for the flower stem. Remove any lower leaves that will be underwater.

When Flowers arrive: Condition Flowers Step by Step: When Flowers arrive: Condition Flowers 3. Place in flower solution Be sure flowers are able to “drink” the flower solution for at least 1 hour at room temperature.

After Processing: Storing Flowers Step by Step: After Processing: Storing Flowers 4. After drinking for an hour, its time to “harden” the flowers. Place them in the cooler (36º F) Most common flowers should be stored at 34 – 38 degrees F.

Special Circumstances Tropical Flowers Store at temperatures between 55 – 75 degrees F Keep air humid mist with water

Special Circumstances Curving Stems For roses and tulips, leave the plastic sleeves on while letting them ‘drink’ the floral solution, to prevent curving stems.

Special Circumstances Stripping roses Be careful not to strip the ‘bark’ because the xylem is right below the surface, rather than in the center of the stem.

Special Circumstances Gerbera Daisies: Use chicken wire to support the flower heads to prevent bent neck. Also, keep them in just enough water, about 2 – 4 inches. Their stems are spongy and absorb lots of water, which can cause them to wilt prematurely.

Storing Foliage Greens, like leather leaf and other plumosa ferns, can be stored in the cooler without a water bucket. Keep foliage wet, hose down the bunches. Keep foliage wrapped in plastic bags inside the boxes to prevent drying out.

Tropisms Tropisms is when flower stems curve. We want to prevent this problem when storing flowers. Phototropism This is when flowers curve towards a light source. like turning toward a window

Tropisms Geotropism This is when flowers curve up away from gravity. growing upwards, when laying down