Flowers are harvested during various stages of ‘ripeness’, depending on market demands. Gerbera and Chrysanthemum seem as though they are ‘further along’ when they are in a mixed bouquet with flowers such as Carnations or Tulips. Flowers that have been harvested while they were still in the ‘bud stage’, such as Rose, Gladioli or Eustoma, appear to need more nutrients in order to fully develop.

Decomposing pieces of leaves and thorns, dust and other pollutants from the air, contaminate the vase water. All this decomposition, organic matter and moulds make the water cloudy and dirty and can be a food source for microorganisms. The vascular bundles in the stem, required for absorbing water, can become plugged by this contamination. This contamination is especially evident on the water surface. When the water level drops, the unsightly scum remains on the side of the vase, dries up and becomes visible.

There is a logical relationship between the size, height and weight of a bouquet of cut flowers and the size, height and weight of the vase. Flower arrangers often have as a rule of thumb that the height of the vase should be between 40 and 60 % of the height of the bouquet.

The best combination ensures that:

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.