Quality BY THE FLORALIFE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM
MAKE HOLIDAY FLOWERS LAST
> The holiday season brings some of the flo- ral industry’s most distinctive products — and some equally distinctive care and handling chal- lenges. Hollow amaryllis stems can split under the weight of their blooms. Freshly cut paperwhites release a sap that can harm neighboring flowers. Poinsettias require warmer storage temperatures than most cut flowers, while ornamental kale can quickly create odor and water-quality problems if not handled properly. Those differences matter during a season when
coolers are full, production schedules are tight and arrangements may spend days in customers’ homes. Proper care begins at receiving and continues through conditioning, design and the instructions provided at delivery. Use this guide to protect the quality and vase life of
six popular seasonal products. Amaryllis
Inspect: Purchase amaryllis in the advanced bud stage or as the first floret begins to open. This provides flexibility for sale while allowing the remaining flowers to continue opening. Check for bruised petals, crushed or bent stems, and splitting that may indi- cate shipping damage.
Condition: Recut stems with sharp, sanitized tools and place them immediately in a commercial storage solution. Condition them upright in deep containers. Because the hollow stems split easily, reinforce the stem ends with floral tape. Do not store amaryllis below 40°F; colder temperatures can cause chilling injury.
Design: The large, heavy blooms need structural support and enough room to continue opening without bruising neighboring flowers. Advise customers to maintain the water level, use properly mixed flower food, remove fading florets and handle the blooms as little as possible.
Ilex
Inspect: Look for bright, uniformly colored berries that are firm and fully developed, along with healthy foliage. Remove stems with shriveled berries, leaf or berry drop, mechanical damage or condensation inside the packaging. These symptoms can indicate dehy- dration, ethylene exposure or poor temperature management.
Condition: Recut the woody stems with a clean, sharp knife and remove leaves and berries that would fall below the solution line. Place the stems in a com- mercial hydration solution and store them with greenery at high humidity. Because ilex is sensitive to ethylene, a natural plant hormone that accelerates aging, pretreat- ment with a commercial anti-ethylene product can help reduce leaf and berry drop.
Design: Use fully hydrated
stems, avoid crushing the berries and remove deteri- orating material promptly. Finished arrangements should be displayed in a cool area away from direct sunlight and heat.
The magazine of the Society of American Florists (SAF) 43
SHUTTERSTOCK/ ADISA
SHUTTERSTOCK/ MADLEN
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