by Emma Bradford, FloraLife UK
The color green has been associated with St. Patrick’s Day since the 17th century, but why? Well, apart from the obvious associations with Ireland, also known as the Emerald Isle, and its flag, green is the color of shamrocks and spring, when St Patrick’s Day occurs.
Have you ever been pinched on St. Patrick’s Day for not wearing green? Well, this tradition is an entirely American invention. St Patrick’s Day revelers believed that wearing green made you invisible to leprechauns (little fairy creatures who like to pinch anyone they see), and pinching non green wearers served as a reminder of what could happen to them should they encounter a leprechaun.
Keeping with the green theme, in the horticultural world, green stems and leaves can be found in abundance. However, green flowers are a bit more exclusive. There are stunning green flower varieties available. Not only are they perfect for making a statement on St. Patrick’s Day, but they also pair up brilliantly with white blooms of all sorts to make clean, fresh and dramatic bouquet anytime of the year.
Examples of Green Flower Varieties
Roses: Lemonade, Jade, Wimbledon, and Green Tea Chrysanthemums: Dark Green Anastasia Spider, Bombellini Disbud, Lime Green Zembla Disbud, Green Disbud Button Carnations: Voragin Dianthus: Green Tricks Hydrangea: Mini Green Other green flowers: Bells of Ireland
Care and Handling Tips from Farm to Vase
Hydration After Harvest
Preventing diseases, such as Botrytis, require control measures such as:
- Remove any leaves that are below the hydration solution.
- Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with a floral cleaner such as Flora Life® D.C.D.® Cleaner.
- Cut stems about 1 -2 inches before placing in a hydration solution such as Floralife® HydraFlor® 100.
- Hydrate in chilled solution in the flower cooler (34 – 38° F).
- Limit the time between harvest and placing in the cooler to less than one hour.
Shipping
- Shipping temperatures should be 34 – 38° F.
- Some flowers are sensitive to ethylene, leading to undesirable characteristics if left untreated. Treating with an ethylene action inhibitor such as EthylBlocTtv1 Sachets and/or Truck Kits can ensure better performance and longer shelf life.
Re-hydration at Store Level and Storage
- Start processing with a clean bucket, sanitized with 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 holding treatment such as Floralife® Express 200. 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 of75-85%
- 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 Flora life® Quick Dip.
- Immediately place flowers in vase solutions containing Floralife® Crystal Clear 300 or Flora life® Express 300.
Protect
Use a professional finishing spray like FloraLife® Finishing Touch or Floralife® Crowning Glory® to refresh, hydrate and protect your flowers.
Customer Care
You’ve done everything right, now it’s up to your customer to take these flowers home and make them last. Buying flowers can be intimidating to some. As the flower expert, offer lots of advice on the steps to follow at home. Educate your customers or the recipients of your flowers on how to care for the flowers. Caution them about placing flowers in direct sunlight, drafty places, or near heating and cooling vents. Remind them to change the flower-food solution every 3 days. And provide flower food packets like Flora life® Express with every purchase and delivery- enough to enable consumers to change the solution throughout the life of the arrangement or bouquet. This is your best insurance policy to guarantee that the freshness will continue.
To learn more about care and handling from the flower care experts visit us at www.floralife.com.
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