1. Conditioning and Storing Cut Flowers and Greens

2. Long lasting flowers Very important b/c it pleases customers
happy customers return to the florist when they need flowers in the future

3. Chain of Life
Helps growers, wholesalers, and retailers lengthen the life of flowers

4. Chain of Life
provide information on proper care and handling throughout the marketing chain
proper care and handling results in longer lasting flowers

5. Flower deterioration The cause is: low water absorption
most flower stems are at least partially blocked when they arrive at the retail florist

6. Causes of blockage cutting stems with dull tools
cut with shears that pinch the xylem (water conducting tubes in the stem)

7. Causes of blockage
bacteria or minerals in the water clog the stem

8. Causes of blockage
air can enter the stems at the time of cutting and partially block the stem
can become so severe that flowers wilt in their container

9. Loss of water transpiration
process by which plants lose water through their leaves

10. Loss of Water
water vapor moves out of the plant through the stomata (stomates)
tiny openings in the underside of the leaf

11. Loss of Water
flowers wilt when moisture is lost through transpiration quicker than it is taken in through the stems.

12. Loss of Water
occurs more rapidly at higher temperatures

13. Loss of food
flowers are still living and need a source of food

14. Loss of food flowers continue to photosynthesize after they are cut
must be given the proper light and a source of sugar

15. Disease Botrytis a fungus which causes brown spots on petals
5th per. 1/20
Botrytis
a fungus which causes brown spots on petals

16. Botrytis
do not allow flowers to get wet before putting them in the cooler
allow wet flowers to dry before putting in the cooler

17. Ethylene Gas naturally occurring gas in flowers that speed maturity
causes rapid
deterioration of
cut flowers

18. Ethylene Gas
fruit, especially apples
diseased or injured flowers

19. Ethylene Gas rotting foliage below the water line
exhaust fumes from cars

20. Symptoms of ethylene flower and petal drop yellowing of foliage
loss of foliage

21. Water Quality pH
measure of acidity or alkalinity on a scale from 0-14 with 7 being neutral

22. pH pH of 3.2 - 4.5 maximizes hydration
floral preservatives commonly added to prolong flower life lower the pH

23. Conditioning flowers
techniques of treating flowers to extend their life.
Begins when flowers arrive from the wholesaler

24. Unpacking as soon as they arrive
loosen paper or plastic sleeves which they have been wrapped in

25. Unpacking flowers will expand as they mature
flowers will be crushed if the sleeves are not loosened.

26. Unpacking do not loosen sleeves on roses
customers prefer roses in the bud stage

27. Unpacking check for signs of disease, damage or wilting
remove damaged or diseased flowers from the bunch before storage

28. Re-cut the stems
stems are cut with a knife rather than shears

29. Re-cut the stems cut stems on a slant
this helps them to absorb more water
prevents the stems from sealing to the bottom of the container

30. Re-cut the stems stems should be cut under warm water
warm water contains less air than cold water

31. Remove lower foliage
remove all foliage from stems that would be underwater in the storage container
foliage left underwater will decay and lead to bacterial growth

32. Remove lower foliage
rotting foliage clogs the stems and releases ethylene gas

33. Remove lower foliage
use a glove or rag to pull the leaves off quickly down the stem
remove outside or damaged petals on roses

34. Clean Containers and Cooler
containers for flower storage should be cleaned with hot detergent solution, disinfected with bleach and thoroughly rinsed

35. Clean Containers and Cooler
a 10% bleach solution is used for disinfecting the containers

36. Metal Containers
decrease the effectiveness of preservatives

37. Preservatives
Place a warm preservative solution in the container prior to adding flowers

38. Preservatives extend the life of flowers in three ways
provide a food source needed for respiration
contain sugar which flowers use to manufacture food
provide an acidifier which lowers the pH of the water

39. Preservatives too much preservative can burn the flower
too little will not be enough to keep flowers fresh

40. Preservatives
home made preservative can be made using 50% Sprite or 7Up, or similar drink containing citric acid

41. Another homemade Preservatives
50% warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons bleach to each quart of solution