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Water quality plays an enormous role in the longevity
of a flower’s life. A plant’s root system serves as
a filter to limit dirt, micro-organisms and chemicals
from entering the plant’s system. When the flower is
cut from its life-sustaining root system, it no longer
has this vital filter to prevent dirt, micro-organ isms
and chemicals from entering and blocking the stem. It
is so important, therefore, to keep the water clean
in order to protect the flower. I have found in my own
home that by changing the water in the flower arrangement
every day the arrangement will last twice as long. Viviano’s
treats all the water in its arrangements with a bactericide
and flower food, which gives the water a milky coloring.
However, within a day or two, the flower will consume
the chemicals used as the bactericide as well as the
flower food. Without the bactericide, microbes grow
quickly and will block the stem thereby preventing water
from moving up the stem. Without water the flower will
quickly wilt and die. By replacing the water every day,
most of harmful microbes go down the drain with the
old water, and the chlorine found in the new tap water
will control the remaining micro-organisms for another
day. You can usually see the micro-organisms in clear
vases because they make the water cloudy and green.
When changing the water in the arrangement be very
careful because gravity will pull some flowers out of
the arrangement. I gently put one hand up to cradle
the flowers while carefully tipping the vase or container
with the other hand. If any flowers are moved out of
place they can simply be rearranged after the container
is refilled with water. Though this may seem like too
much trouble at first, you will quickly learn how to
handle the arrangement in this way and you will be amazed
at how well this works to preserve your flowers.
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| Flower Food |
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If you are interested in reading more about water quality
then please click here
to learn more about hydrating
flowers.
In addition to keeping the water clean you can add
a flower food and bactericide or floral preservative
to the water. If you change the water every day then
the preservative will not add much to the longevity
of the flowers. Nevertheless, if you want to take the
extra step to maximize your flowers’ vase life then
you can add a commercially prepared floral preservative
or make your own. If you wish to make your own, Dr.
Joseph E. Houland recommends the following: to one quart
of water add 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
of sugar and ½ teaspoon of chlorine bleach. (Dr. Joseph
E. Houland, University of Nevada, So. Florist and Nursery,
11/25/83) Click here to
learn more about flower food.
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| Ethylene Gas |
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Though ethylene gas plays an important role in the
life and redevelopment of plants, it is detrimental
to the lifespan of a cut flower. Ethylene gas naturally
occurs in the environment from a variety of sources,
including plants themselves, the ripening of fruits--perhaps
most notably, bananas, decaying foliage and combustion
of organic compounds such as the gas from gas stoves
or cigarettes. The effects of ethylene gas on flowers
are best controlled by importers, wholesalers and retailers,
but consumers can do a few things to give their flowers
an extra day of life. Because fruits naturally produce
ethylene gas, you should keep your flowers away from
fruit. Though we sell attractive arrangements with fruit
and flowers, they do not last as long as arrangements
made without fruit. Also, by keeping the water clean
and removing any wilted or decaying foliage or flowers
from the arrangement, you will help prolong your flowers’
life. Remember, the cleaner the environment, the longer
your flowers will last.
The following information regarding ethylene is interesting;
however, most of the documentation is targeted toward
importers, wholesalers and retailers. If you would like
to learn more about this topic then please click
here: ethylene effects of the post-harvest performance
of fresh cut flowers.
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| Sanitation and Storage |
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We offer two more sections of flower care and handling
which you might find interesting. One is about
sanitation, and the other is about
storage. There is little application of these two
categories of flower care and handling in the home,
but I think you may be interested in learning the lengths
to which florists go to ensure that you have a quality
long-lasting product.
Viviano’s is pleased to provide this information for
you. We hope you have enjoyed learning about flower
care and handling. If you have any questions or would
like to learn more about flower care and handling then
please send me a message by clicking on my name.
Thank you for visiting Viviano Flower Shop,
Paul Viviano
Back to the Flower Care home
page
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