Releasing your inner Flower Expert Gay Smith Technical Consulting Manager November 2013

People Buy from Experts, so what are you waiting for??

Topics Where our flowers are grown Turning sunlight into carbohydrates Temperature Impact on Quality Four Challenges to Quality Solution Use—maximize return on investment Target areas for SUCCESS

Where we grow flowers in the Americas * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity oprah winfrey

Cooler set point = 34 - 38F TEMPERATURE MATTERS  Stem bending  Wilting  Flower opening  Flower drop  Ethylene  Bacterial development  CONDENSATION Cooler set point = 34 - 38F

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

Botrytis Control Respect cold chain Keep blooms dry Keep cooler floors dry Work CLEAN!! Careful handling--mechanical damage opens the door to infection

Another challenge = Bacteria ….flowers bleed when cut

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

Got gas? ETHYLENE GAS Death to flowers SOURCES: Fruits, veggies & flowers Combustion engine exhaust Cigarette smoke, BBQs, fireplaces, Bacteria, yeast and fungi Wounds and bruises trigger ethylene

Ethylene Symptoms

How to Avoid Ethylene Problems Buy treated flowers Don’t peel rose petals unnecessarily No deco mosses in coolers No fruit basket items, no lunches in coolers Work CLEAN Ethylene Buster for orchid cooler

Shifting gears ~ SANITATION Sanitize tables, tools, trash cans, brooms Develop daily, weekly, monthly cleaning schedules Chrysal Cleaner = residual effect Empty trash 2-3 daily Paper towels, not rags Keep hose nozzles up, off floor

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

Are you a Stripper? …a peeler …a bit heavy-handed? Impact of handling methods… Are you a Stripper? …a peeler …a bit heavy-handed?

Hydration vs. Flower food Hydration solutions: Lowers pH Boost flow Check bacteria Flower food solutions: Lowers pH Check bacteria Provide energy in form of sugar

What you would’ve learned in HS Chemistry if you’d been listening US city water pH ranges between 6.5—8 Flowers drink most efficiently between pH 3.5—5.0

“Quick” Hydration vs Sustained Quick solutions act as stem sanitizers Fast transfers are super-important For Wilt-sensitive flowers, use a hydration solution –allow time for stems to fill

Hydration solutions for hard-to-hydrate or blooms that don’t like sugar Hydrangeas Garden roses Spray roses Zinnias, Clematis Woodies Bouvardia Lysimachia, Veronica Pumpkin Trees Berries Anthurium, foliages Ammi majus

Difference between Flower food formulas? Both contain Acidifiers  lower pH of tap water Clarifiers  check pollution Nutrients  provide energy 1. Processing food = low sugar 2. Vase food = full sugar

Why we need glucose (sugar) in flower food Energy for bud opening and leaf turgidity Stabilizing color Enhancing fragrance potential (if exists)

SUGAR LOVERS need full-load flower food Tuberoses Protea Lisianthus Carnations Peonies

Why mix with cold water? Scientifically proven that cold water flows into stems faster than ambient or warm The colder the flower (and water) the faster the metabolism rate is reduced which means you save energy for later Cold temperatures inhibit the aging processes (eg opening, leaf yellowing etc.) Bacteria development is reduced in cold

Trends in flower care— (one size does not fit all) Hard to Hydrate flowers Bulbous flowers Dirty Flowers Sugar lovers Ethylene sensitive

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

“Dirty” Flowers need Professional Gerbera Pills

PROCESSING GAME RULES Start clean: tables, tools, buckets… Measure when mixing Remove only leaves falling below water line Plan ahead—quick transfers Don’t combine old solutions with fresh Take out of cooler # of boxes you can process in 30 minutes Keep petals dry Don’t peel guards unnecessarily Top-up with fresh solution, not H2O

Sprays Finishing vs. anti-transpirant

Versatile Leaf Shine

Get your money’s worth!! a) Use COLD water b) Fast transfers c) Allow time for stems to fill d) Avoid stripping too much foliage e) DRY, Dry, dry f) Use the right solution for the right job g) Top-up w/ fresh solution. No ice h) Never consolidate used solutions i) Never sell directly from the box j) Handle with care

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

Thank-you!