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Releasing your inner Flower Expert

Gay SmithTechnical Consulting Manager

November 2013

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People Buy from Experts, so what are you waiting for??

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TopicsWhere our flowers are grown Turning sunlight into carbohydrates Temperature Impact on QualityFour Challenges to QualitySolution Use—maximize return on

investmentTarget areas for SUCCESS

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Where we

grow flowers

inthe

Americas

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Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity

oprah winfrey

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TEMPERATURE MATTERS

Stem bending Wilting Flower opening Flower drop Ethylene Bacterial development CONDENSATION

Cooler set point = 34 - 38F

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#1 disease challenge is Botrytis-

• Non-specific fungus disease• Needs water or high humidity • Spreads = cross-contamination• Lives on live and dead tissues• Gives off ethylene as it develops

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Botrytis Control• Respect cold chain• Keep blooms dry • Keep cooler floors dry• Work CLEAN!!• Careful handling--mechanical

damage opens the door to infection

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Another challenge = Bacteria….flowers bleed when cut

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Bacteria = #1 reason stems get clogged

Best line of defense?Sanitizing with a professional

cleanerFrequent sanitationSharp tools

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Got gas?ETHYLENE GAS Death to flowers

SOURCES: Fruits, veggies & flowersCombustion engine exhaustCigarette smoke, BBQs,

fireplaces,Bacteria, yeast and fungi Wounds and bruises trigger

ethylene

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Ethylene Symptoms

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How to Avoid Ethylene Problems

• Buy treated flowers

• Don’t peel rose petals unnecessarily

• No deco mosses in coolers

• No fruit basket items, no lunches in coolers

• Work CLEAN

• Ethylene Buster for orchid cooler

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Shifting gears ~ SANITATION

• Sanitize tables, tools, trash cans, brooms

• Develop daily, weekly, monthly cleaning schedules

• Chrysal Cleaner = residual effect• Empty trash 2-3 daily• Paper towels, not rags• Keep hose nozzles up, off floor

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If you wouldn’t drink it or drink out of it, neither will your flowers

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Are you a Stripper?…a peeler

…a bit heavy-handed?

Impact of handling methods…

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Hydration vs. Flower food

Hydration solutions: Lowers pH

Boost flow

Check bacteria Flower food solutions:

Lowers pH

Boost flow Check bacteria Provide energy in form of sugar

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What you would’ve learned in HS Chemistry if you’d been listening

US city water pH ranges between 6.5—8

Flowers drink most

efficiently between pH

3.5—5.0

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“Quick” Hydration vs Sustained

Quick solutions act as stem sanitizers Fast transfers are super-important

For Wilt-sensitive flowers, use a hydration solution –allow time for

stems to fill

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Hydration solutions for hard-to-hydrate or blooms that don’t like sugar • Hydrangeas

• Garden roses• Spray roses• Zinnias, • Clematis• Woodies• Bouvardia • Lysimachia, Veronica• Pumpkin Trees• Berries• Anthurium, foliages• Ammi majus

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Difference between Flower food formulas?

Both contain– Acidifiers lower pH of tap water– Clarifiers check pollution– Nutrients provide energy

1. Processing food = low sugar 2. Vase food = full sugar

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Why we need glucose (sugar) in flower food

Energy for bud opening and leaf turgidityStabilizing colorEnhancing fragrance potential (if exists)

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SUGAR LOVERS need full-load flower food

•Tuberoses•Protea•Lisianthus•Carnations•Peonies

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Why mix with cold water?

• Scientifically proven that cold water flows into stems faster than ambient or warm

• The colder the flower (and water) the faster the metabolism rate is reduced which means you save energy for later

• Cold temperatures inhibit the aging processes (eg opening, leaf yellowing etc.)

• Bacteria development is reduced in cold

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Trends in flower care—

(one size does not fit all)

• Hard to Hydrate flowers• Bulbous flowers• Dirty Flowers• Sugar lovers• Ethylene sensitive

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Specialty foods ~ Bulb Flowers

Balanced hormones Increase vase life Color vibrancy Foliage quality All florets open

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“Dirty” Flowersneed Professional Gerbera Pills

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• Start clean: tables, tools, buckets…• Measure when mixing• Remove only leaves falling below water

line• Plan ahead—quick transfers• Don’t combine old solutions with fresh• Take out of cooler # of boxes you can

process in 30 minutes• Keep petals dry• Don’t peel guards unnecessarily• Top-up with fresh solution, not H2O

PROCESSING GAME RULESPROCESSING GAME RULES

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Sprays

Finishing vs. anti-transpirant

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Versatile Leaf Shine

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Get your money’s worth!!

a) Use COLD water b) Fast transfersc) Allow time for stems to fill d) Avoid stripping too much foliagee) DRY, Dry, dryf) Use the right solution for the right jobg) Top-up w/ fresh solution. No ice

h) Never consolidate used solutionsi) Never sell directly from the boxj) Handle with care

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Everything we do on the front end, maximizes vase performance

& customer satisfaction

on the back end!

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Thank-you!