Quality BY SERGIO SARMIENTO


TIPS TO HELP MOM’S FLOWERS LAST LONGER Disinfect your tools. Bacteria


> Gift-giving holidays like Mother’s Day are great opportunities to impress new customers. And while your shop’s cus- tomer service and product selection will surely leave a great first impression, the factor that is likely to hold their attention longest is the vase life of your arrange- ments. That can be extra challenging considering arrangements are often cre- ated days ahead of time to manage the high volume of order. As you gear up for Mother’s Day,


investing time in spring cleaning, thoughtful preparation, and staff train- ing on care and handling techniques (using this information) will ensure your blooms are in peak condition when they leave the shop.


Grab a Cleaner Taking the time to disinfect workspaces and tools goes a long way to prevent the spread of bacteria or fungus that can lead to wilting or decay. Clean the cooler. The flower cooler is


your most important tool in maintaining the life of your flowers, but it can also be a breeding ground. Take the time to wipe down the shelves, remove any debris, and disinfect the entire unit. Ensure that the temperature is set to an optimal range, typically between 34°F to 38°F. A cooler that’s too warm will shorten the lifespan of your flowers.


from flowers can quickly accumulate on knives, so it’s important to disin- fect them regularly, especially before processing and designing with a large volume of flowers for the holiday. Use a QAT cleaner solution (quaternary ammonium compound cleaner), which is highly effective at killing bacteria and fungi without corroding tools. Wash all buckets and surfaces.


Buckets should be washed with hot water and detergent. Be sure to clean any worktables, counters and storage shelves where flowers will be arranged or held to prevent cross-contamination of flowers.


Make Room for Volume Take time to ensure your shop has enough room to receive, process, and properly store large volumes of flowers. Check temperatures. Many flowers


have different storage needs, but the general rule is that they should be kept cool. Roses, lilies, carnations, and daisies, for instance, do best at tem- peratures of 34°F to 38°F. Be sure to store each flower variety according to its specific needs, and avoid placing flowers too close to windows, heat sources and drafts, as temperature fluctuations can cause premature wilting. Tropical flowers need to be stored at warmer temperatures such as 55°-65°F.


Hydrate and nourish flowers. One of


the most critical elements of flower care is hydration. Before placing flowers in the cooler, make sure the stems are prop- erly hydrated and nourished with flower food. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area and maximize water absorption. Measure the appropriate amount of flower food to mix in before placing flowers in water. Give flowers enough breathing


room. When receiving large shipments of flowers, it’s important to organize them properly. Store flowers of similar varieties together and ensure that they have enough space to breathe. This will help prevent damage to delicate petals and stems and ensure proper air circulation.


Hold Flowers with TLC It’s important to store the arrangements in a way that will prolong their freshness and to check in on them frequently. Keep in cool conditions. A clean


cooler is the best place to store arrange- ments, but they fill up quickly. If that happens, consider using flower-safe temperature-controlled rooms. Check in. Some arrangements,


including those in foam, held in the cooler may require extra water that is properly dosed with flower food to stay healthy. Flower food is essential to thriving flowers, especially when holding arrangements for days. These solutions typically contain sugar for energy, acid- ifiers to lower pH, biocides to prevent bacteria growth.


Doublecheck Arrangements Before sending arrangements out the door, check to make sure that they are as fresh as possible. Look for wilting or damaged petals and remove them. Keep the flowers hydrated throughout the delivery process and give flower food packets with every order. This is your best insurance policy that flowers will last as long as possible once they have left your hands.


Sergio Sarmiento is a postharvest technical specialist for FloraLife, a division of Smithers-Oasis.


48 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | March/April 2025 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


SHUTTERSTOCK/JASEN WRIGHT


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