Processing Your Flowers: The Short and The Long

Table of Contents

• Detailed List of Actions
• Short List of Actions
• In Conclusion...

Flower care upon arrival is the most crucial step to ensure their longevity and freshness for your customers. Knowing how to take of flowers can improve your floral arrangements exponentially. This initial step not only maximizes the lifespan of the flowers but also enhances their appearance, making them more appealing for sale. There are two basic methods for flower processing: the simple way, which involves simple care techniques like cutting stems and hydrating the flowers in clean water, and a more advanced method that uses hormone solutions to boost water absorption and protect against bacteria. Both approaches can play a vital role in maintaining the quality and shelf life of the flowers, giving your customers the best experience possible.

The more advanced method of processing wholesale flowers involves using chemical solutions, such as flower food or preservatives, to enhance water uptake and protect against bacteria and fungi. This method is especially beneficial for day-to-day florists who handle a high volume of flowers and need to maintain consistent quality. It’s also ideal for common flowers, like chrysanthemums and gerberas, or more delicate flower varieties, like lilies, which are prone to wilting or bacterial damage. Chemical solutions not only extend the flowers' lifespan by providing nutrients but also help prevent common issues like premature wilting, discoloration, or rotting at the stem base. By using these treatments, florists can ensure their flowers stay vibrant and fresh longer, giving customers a superior product that lasts.

Here Is a Detailed List of Actions

• Clean your product. Leave the grower wrappers on for this, cleaning the foliage of leaves and off shoots one quarter of the stem length up.

• Cut the tips and hydrate using a hydration chemical like Floralife Hydraflor 100 or QuickDip. This opens the capillary system and allows for uninhibited hydration. For maximum benefit, put the water/hydration mix into the cooler overnight, and dip fresh tips in the cold solution. This bucket can be reused for up to 2 weeks as long as it is kept clean of debris.

• After several hours/overnight, or until designing, open the packing and clean the stems of any other debris (according to the variety-for hollow stems, be sure to clean most of the leaves off to prevent rot.)

• Give another fresh cut and place in a holding chemical (like Floralife 200) in the cooler. This bucket can be reused for up to 2 weeks as long as it is kept clean of debris. Keep stems in this solution until designing.

• When designing, use an opening chemical such as Floralife 300 Chrystal Clear. You can use this when soaking oasis or filling vases. This will kill bacteria and encourage the blooming process. 

• Keep Finishing Touch and Crowning Glory on deck for after designing. Crowning Glory is a sealant, and Finishing Touch provides extra hydration to petals. 

Short List of Actions

While the long version of processing flowers is incredibly beneficial, it is not always necessary, or not always feasible. To ensure your flowers get the best second option-follow the following steps:

• Cut stem tips and clean leaves off.

• Place in the cooler for several hours or overnight during water uptake.

• Keep roses in packing paper for this process, other flowers can be taken out of wrapping. 

• After unwrapping, finish cleaning the stems of excess debris/leaves.

• Use floral food in a vase when designing.

• Finish with a finishing spray. 

In Conclusion...

Properly processing your flowers, whether through simple methods like trimming stems and hydrating, or by using hormones and chemicals for added longevity, plays a vital role in maintaining their freshness and beauty for your customers. This care ensures that your flowers remain vibrant, healthy, and appealing, giving you a competitive edge. Additionally, iBuyFlowers ships directly from the farms to your florist, ensuring that your flowers arrive as fresh as possible, with minimal handling. This added freshness, combined with proper processing, enhances the overall value and longevity of your flowers, helping you deliver the best product to your customers every time. 

Wilfred de Wit, CEO of iBuyFlowers

Want to read more about the flowers that come from our farms? Check out our Agrogana and Agrinag farm blogs. Also learn more from our CEO, Wilfred de Wit, about how we connect florists with flower growers and more through this special podcast episode with Botanical Brouhaha!