1. Choosing and Preparing Flowers

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Insider Tips Remove anthers from flowers such as lilies to prevent stains and allergies Gently remove anthers by pinching them off

7. 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

8. 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

9. Preserving Your Flowers

10. 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

11. Flower Stem

12. Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Loss of water Flowers lose water through their leaves by transpiration

13. Most Common Causes of Flower Deterioration Loss of food From photosynthesis

14. 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

15. 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

16. Proper Handling of Fresh Flowers 1. Wash buckets with bleach or special floral cleaner 2. Mix preservative at the recommended rate in 100-105 degree water 3. Inspect for damage, overheating, decay, etc. 4. Groom and remove damaged flowers or foliage 5. Wash shears or knife and re-cut stems under preservative and water. -Cut at a slant

17. Proper Handling of Fresh Flowers 6. Remove all foliage that will be under water 7. Place in preservative water 8. Remove sleeves except on roses 9. Allow to set out 1-2 hours at room temperature 10. Place in cooler for several hours before using in arrangements