Contamination of vase water is caused by the decomposition of the stems and leaves in the water. If stems have been damaged and start to decompose, bacteria from the surroundings (stem, container/vase, air, leaf) can develop and cause the stem to further decompose resulting in the clouding of the vase. Aesthetics and hygiene of the vase water are the main reasons for keeping the container/vase water clean. By cutting stems and removing the leaves under the water, the natural balance is maintained in the vase and your flowers stay in optimum condition.

Botrytis, also known as gray mold, is one of the most destructive infections that roses can suffer from. It causes significant damage to the tissue, resulting in a substantial decrease in the longevity of the flowers.​​​​​​ Once infected, the disease can't be eradicated, but there are effective methods to limit its spread and protect your precious roses. One such method is the use of Chrysal Videnti (which is currently exclusively available in South America).

Although you might be in a hurry it’s important to resist the urge to push the floral foam into the solution of water and Chrysal Professional 3. Forcing water into the foam creates air pockets resulting in the foam not soaking through properly which will cause flowers to become prematurely dehydrated and die. Instead, gently place the floral foam on top of the water and let it soak naturally. The foam will float at first and after a short while will almost fully submerge, changing colour to dark green at which point it’s ready to be used.

The spray carnation is, like the regular carnation, very sensitive to the aging hormone ethylene. When the flower is exposed to it the flowers will shrink. Other types of flowers often experience dropping of buds, flowers and/or leaves. This decreases the life expectancy to a maximum of 1 week after harvest. And since the distribution and sales period for cut flowers is often a week, waste will be very high for the consumer at home.

Types of ethylene

In principal there are two types of ethylene:

When looking at the quality of roses obviously the first thing we look at is the flower. But a nice rose with damaged or dead leaves does not look attractive. Also, damaged leaves can lead to faster wilting of the flower. The leaves are the engine for transporting water and nutrients to the flower. When the engine fails the flower will not be in optimal condition. Potentially leading to the flower not opening fully and a shorter vase life.

Dehydration is a common cause for waste with plants throughout the chain. The issue occurs mostly during transport and in the shop. Also, certain kinds of plants, like spathiphyllum, azalea and hydrangea, are very sensitive to dehydration. If you use the following tips, you will avoid waste by dehydration as much as possible.

Purchase

With a production area of more than 200 ha Phalaenopsis is a very important crop. In general growers try to get as many spikes on a plant as possible to fulfill the needs of their customers. To stimulate the spiking of the Phalaenopsis at the grower a period of cooling is necessary. Light intensity also influences spiking. To make the spiking process more successful and uniform Chrysal introduced a new pre-harvest product especially for Phalaenopsis called Chrysal Viva.

The sunflower or Helianthus is a very popular and common seasonal flower. This wonderful flower is a great addition to any store, both for mono and mixed bouquets and floral arrangements. But how do you get the most out of the sunflower?

In recent years we have seen a huge increase in online flower sales. Not everyone gets the chance to visit a local florist or supermarket to buy a nice bunch of flowers, but to be perfectly honest: having flowers delivered to your doorstep is just very convenient as well. But how can you make sure that your wonderful creations arrive in top condition at your customers? We have the following five tips for you.