by Emma Bradford, FloraLife UK

If standard roses bring classic elegance to mind, then their cousin spray roses are the epitome of a country garden beauty. Just as stunning but with a natural country vibe.

With multiple blooms and soft petals, spray roses are perfect for creating a naturalistic garden rose aesthetic but on a smaller scale. So, whether you are dressing a summer country wedding or want to produce a casual garden bouquet, you can rely on spray roses to carry the day.

Sprays are also perfect for corsages and boutonnieres. Because spray roses have small yet perfectly formed blooms, each one at a different opening stage on the same stem, they offer lots of design options.

Whether you’re looking for pastel shades to re-create an English country garden look, or stronger hues for a vibrant colorful mix, you will find a spray rose that fits the bill. Furthermore, because each stem holds multiple blooms, it doesn’t take many to make a big impact.

So, if you aren’t already in love with spray roses, take another look at these little beauties and let them surprise you with their versatility, usefulness, and unique aesthetic.

Care and Handling Tips

 Purchasing

• Spray roses can be ethylene sensitive. Source from growers which treat stems with an ethylene action inhibitor such as EthylBloc™.
• Choose stems with flowers opening at a minimum of opening stage 3. Trials have shown that spray roses which are harvested at a more open cut stage perform better during vase life. In some growing regions this is known as the ‘American’ cut stage.

Shipping and storage

• Shipping and storage temperatures should be 34 – 38  F.
• Stems should be shipped and packaged to minimize damage in transit due to open cut stage.

 Re-hydration at store level and storage

• Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with FloraLife  D.C.D.  cleaner.
• If received dry packed, conditioning of stem ends is recommended to prevent blockage and promote uptake. Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with Floralife  Quick Dip.
• Place flowers in a flower food solution such as Floralife Crystal Clear  or Floralife  Express 300. Do not put flowers directly in metal/galvanized buckets. Use clean, high quality water that has not been treated with a water softener as the salt levels can be damaging to flowers.
• Store in a cooler at 34 – 38  F with a relative humidity of 75-85%
• Allow minimum 2 hours to hydrate placing buckets in an area with good airflow.
• Always remember FIFO (first in/first out) when rotating flowers.

Vase Care

• Remove any leaves that might be below the vase solution.
• Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, sanitized clippers or knife. If received dry, treat with Floralife  Quick Dip.
• Immediately place flowers in vase solutions containing FloraLife Crystal Clear or Floralife  Express 300.

 Common Defects:

• Florets dropping prematurely – may be associated with ethylene sensitivity.

Special Considerations:

• Some varieties can be ethylene sensitive, leading to poor opening, premature wilting, and leaf yellowing. Treating with an ethylene inhibitor such as EthylBloc™ or EthylGuard to protect against exposure can help these varieties.
• Other causes for poor vase life can be product age (stored too long) or storing dry for long periods.

To learn more about care and handling from the flower care experts visit us at www.floralife.com