Plant development and its duration, in connection with climatic conditions and other factors, are different for each plant type and cultivar. Deviations from the optimum care will lead to a shorter shelf life for the consumer. Post-harvest treatments do not have the power to influence the genetic potential of the plant and are not formulated as such.

Flower development and its duration, in connection with climatic conditions and other factors, are different for each flower type and cultivar. Deviations from the optimum care will of course lead to a shorter vase life for the consumer.

Premature harvesting is the core problem of bent-neck in roses. The stem right under the bud is not strong enough to carry the weight of the growing bud/flower. When the stem bends in this way, the vascular bundles are pinched shut and the flower’s water supply is cut off. The leaves, on the other hand, remain healthy. Premature harvesting also makes the tissue more sensitive to lack of water.

Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) is a fungus which causes a loss of quality in flowers like Rosa, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera and Lisianthus. The place of origin, season, hygiene during processing and storage, weather conditions and climate control play an important role in the appearance and development of Botrytis. The fungus thrives on both living and dead plant materials. The infection starts when miniscule little mould spores, spread through the air. Starting as a little white speck (‘pock’) on the flower petals, it spreads right to the bottom of the flower.

Stems carry the flower and give the flower access to water. The stem should remain undamaged to enjoy the flowers as long as possible. Do not remove bark or thorns from the stem. Did you know that stem scrapers and thorn removers belong to the top 10 list of torture treatments for flowers?

Effects of stem scraping
Scraping damages the stem bark, the flowers natural protection, causing a large stem wound. Result: a quickly wilting flower, a short vase life, extra waste for the florist/retailer and a disappointed customer.

If there is one flower species known to want to rise above all, it’s the tulip. Tulipa grow about 10 cm after cutting, during transport and whilst in the vase depending on the cultivar. Sometimes gerberas, anemone and antirrhinums also want to grow when cut and put in vases. Florists cannot do much to prevent this, growers can.

Any kind of container can be used for displaying flowers, however some are more suitable than others for ensuring good flower development. No matter what the material is, make sure that the container is clean! Our advice: try to display your flowers in clean glass containers. Glass is an inert, hard and smooth material which does not cause a reaction between vase water and vase. Glass is not too sensitive to scratches on the inside and is easy to clean. And it  shows the complete bouquet.

Flowers are sold in many different forms, colours and opening stages. The cutting stage at the grower is crucial to the vase life and flower development at the consumers. Flowers should not be cut too immature but certainly not too open either, in order to deliver the consumer an optimal product. Flowers which are cut too tightly will never open and will become more sensitive to ‘bent-neck’. Flowers which are cut too open can also cause problems as they are more exposed to petal damage during distribution. 

Water is essential for flowers to develop optimally. Water fills up the growing cells in the cut flower and provides strength. Water is also the carrier of all nutrients needed for the natural development of leaf and flower. Water shortage irrevocably leads to limp stems, leaves and flowers and ultimately to premature wilting and end of vase life.

Cutting a piece off the stem of the flower is essential for its ability to absorb water and flower food, in order to develop in a natural way. Cutting also implies creating a wound, which could become infected. Blunt knives and cutting tools, and the resulting stem damage from their use, can lead to an explosive growth of micro-organisms in containers and vases. Therefore, the cleaner the cut, the better it is for the flower.

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