Flower Care & Conditioning

A flower is composed mostly of water, and its ability to take water up the stem freely determines how long it will survive.  When a flower stem is cut, it immediately begins to close its pores to help retain moisture in its cells. 

Conditioning, sometimes known as hardening, is a necessary process that prepares the flower’s tissues to be filled to capacity with water before the stem seals over completely.

The following care and conditioning instructions of fresh cut flowers detail the necessary steps for optimum water uptake and maintenance resulting in maximizing flower life and happier customers. 

What you will need to process flowers and foliage:

  1. Clean non-metallic water-holding buckets or containers
  2. Sharp knife or clippers
  3. Commercial floral food
  4. Commercial bucket disinfectant or cleaner
  5. Warm and cold water

What to do before flowers and foliage arrive:

  1. Wash thoroughly all containers with warm water and a commercial bucket disinfectant or cleaner suitable for flowers.
  2. Fill containers approximately 4-6 inches deep with cold tap water. 
  3. If you're not using a Dosatron, prepare flower food mixture according to manufacturer's instructions, mix with cold tap water as you should notuse hot water. The water temperature should be between 38-42 degrees at all times. When filling buckets or containers, please make sure the water temp is in this range.  If necessary, please add ice to the container to bring down the water temperature.  Avoid temperature fluctuation. Any substantial variation creates condensation and botrytis on the bloom. 

What to do when flowers arrive:

  1. Process flowers immediately upon arrival. Make sure they do not spend any time on the receiving dock or any other warm/hot temperature environment.
  2. Cut and remove any straps outside or inside the box. 
  3. Loosen the paper and/or plastic sleeves, but do not remove the plastic hard wrap.
  4. Check flowers for disease or damage. Report any unacceptable quality. 
  5. Cut each stem 1 to 1 ½ inches at an angle with a sharp knife or clippers that has been sanitized.
  6. Place flowers in a clean and sanitized container. Be sure container has been cleaned with a proper "authorized" sanitizer and is free of any plant material or residue.
  7. Remove any foliage from the flowers that will fall below the container’s water line. 
  8. Move flowers into a cooler with a temperature of 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit for a hydration period of one hour. This will ensure an organized, slow development of the flowers.
  9. Check the water level several times daily and add water with floral preservative as needed. Properly conditioned flowers will continue to drink water extending the life of the flowers.  

What does Floral Food do for the flowers?

  1. Slows down growth of bacteria (acidifier).
  2. Slows down the aging process by increasing water uptake.
  3. Adds nutrients (sugars) to water.
  4. Reduces ethylene production. 

Special Conditioning Tips:  

  • Do not place flowers in direct sunlight, near direct sources of heat or cold, or in a drafty area. These conditions cause premature wilting of flowers and dramatically reduce flower life. 
  • Do not expose flowers to freezing temperatures. Water in the flower cells will freeze and rupture the tissues. 
  • Flowers should not be placed near fresh fruit or vegetables unless they are a part of the actual design. Fruit and vegetables produce ethylene gas, which causes flowers to die more quickly. 
  • Remove pollen from lilies as they open to reduce staining of petals and fabric. 
  • Foliage may be either recut and placed in buckets of water like flowers, or they can be sprayed/misted with water and placed into plastic bags before placing in the cooler. 
  • Foliage can also be treated with sprays that reduce water loss such as “waxes” or “leaf shines”. 
  • If you are using a vase, be sure it’s clean.  Use tap water, ad and mix in flower food.  When placing the stems in the vase, check that all stems are inside the vase. 
  • If flowers are going to be designed using floral foam, hydrate the foam with tap water and flower food for at least 12 hours in advance.  Be sure the floral foam stays hydrated.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions!