Quality BY TERRIL A. NELL, PH.D., AAF INVEST IN THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS


> Cut flowers need help along the jour- ney from harvest to consumer. They are stressed by repeated handling, exposure to fluctuating temperatures, extended storage, shipping and display. Unless you provide the proper solutions, flowers will dry out and deplete their internal sugars. As you select the proper solutions,


remember the three C’s of basic flower care established by American Floral Endowment research: Cooling, Care and Cleanliness. Along with using the proper solutions, it is also important to keep flowers cold (33-35 degrees F, with 75-85 percent humidity) and to assure clean, sanitized containers, tools, work surfaces and coolers. What are these solutions? Generally,


these products restore and maintain water balance in flowers and provide supplemental sugar to replace the inter- nal sugar that is lost during the journey. These key elements — water and sugar — are essential. Hydration solutions and flower foods are crafted to fulfill these needs. In addition to sugar, they contain an acidifying agent to lower pH, so water is taken up more rapidly and microbial growth is slowed. Microbes cause deterioration of the stem and reduce water uptake. In other words, reducing microbial activity increases water uptake, which in turn keeps sugar flowing to the petals for opening and extended life. Are these products worth the


cost? Yes, without a doubt. In my 20-plus years of cut-flower postharvest research at the University of Florida, funded mostly by the American Floral Endowment, these products were demonstrated to extend flower life and promote flower opening. In addition, specialty products used


for postharvest pretreatments success- fully prevented damage from ethylene and leaf yellowing. These solutions also contain water-uptake enhancers — compounds that allow water to be absorbed more readily by reducing the surface tension of the water as it moves up the stem. The water-uptake enhancers work like oil in a car engine by reducing friction.


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Flower Care and Handling Products Product


RVB


RVB Clear Intensive OVB AVB


CVBN EasyDip RosePro Hydration Hydraflor 100


Hydraflor Clear Ultra 100


Express Clear 100


Hydrate Hydrangeas Quick Dip 100 Hydraplus Hydraquick


Professional 2 Flowpro 2


Use/Description All-purpose hydrating solution


Clear universal hydrating solution Hydration solution for summer flowers Anti-ethylene treatment Hydrator in pill form


Pre-conditioner, stimulates hydration by easing the route for the conditioner


Clear formula designed to improve leaf quality and prevent bent neck


Hydration solution to rehydrate and condition all cut-flower types


Concentrated hydration solution to rehydrate and condition all cut-flower types


Hydration solution that does not require re-cutting of stems


Specially formulated for hydration of hydrangea Ready-to-use quick hydrating solution Hydration solution


Ready-to-use hydration solution Hydration solution plus nutrients


Ethylene Buster sachets Anti-ethylene treatments Express Clear 200


Storage and transport solution with nutrients that does not require re-cutting of stems. Liquid and powder for florists and consumers.


Express Clear Ultra 200 Concentrated storage and transport solution that does not require re-cutting of stems


Clear 200 Clear 200 eZ Dose Conditioner for storage and shipping


A traceable storage and transport product made in a microperforated packet so it can be directly placed or dropped into a clean flower bucket without having to tear the packet open for use


Express 200 eZ Dose A traceable storage and transport product made in a microperforated packet so it can be directly placed or dropped into a clean flower bucket without having to tear the packet open for use. This product does not require re-cutting of stems.


EthylBloc (sachets and truck treatment)


Aquahold FLORAL MANAGEMENT | July/August 2020 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG Anti-ethylene treatment Hydration solution that slows flower opening


Manufacturer Chrysal USA


Chrysal USA Chrysal USA Chrysal USA Chrysal USA Chrysal USA


Chrysal USA FloraLife FloraLife FloraLife


FloraLife FloraLife


Syndicate Sales Syndicate Sales


Chrysal USA


Conditioner that does not require re-cutting stems Chrysal USA Chrysal USA FloraLife


FloraLife


FloraLife FloraLife


FloraLife


FloraLife Syndicate Sales


Storage/Transport


Hydration/Pretreatment


SHUTTERSTOCK/ MARTINHO SMART


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