Nitty Gritty Hacks to Extend Vaselife

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Shanna Clarke
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2 Down and Dirty: Nitty Gritty Hacks to Extend Vaselife Gay Smith Chrysal USA Steve Daum Floralife September 8,

3 Topics What Consumers Want & Need Science Friday with Steve 4 Colossal Profit Thieves Cleaning House Flower Solutions 101 Protocols 3

4 What s Most Important to the Consumer? 8% 9% Consumers are concerned with how long the flowers last. 33% 50% Studies show consumers expect 5-7 days of vase life to consider flowers a worthwhile purchase. Vaselife Fragrance Color Size 4

5 Factors influencing consumer behavior Based on a consumer study of 1,200 flower-buying households in the U.S., over 14 years and four surveys, consumers rated the following positive/negative influencers Quality Value Sales Assistance / Courtesy Delivery of custom orders Plant Quality and Selection Desireable Colors Fashionable Colors Ease of buying Unusual Flowers Useful Website / Catalog Do-it Yourself Flowers By Percent Surveyed 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 5

6 Science Friday with Steve 6

7 Temperature and Relative Humidity 7

8 Effects of Temperature 5 F then day 5 = A few degrees matter! 8

Pink rose respiration (ml CO2/ kg/ hr) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 y = 31.504e 0.083x R 2 = 0.9536 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Temperature (ºC) 7.

9 Pink rose respiration (ml CO2/ kg/ hr) y = e 0.083x R 2 = Temperature (ºC) 7.0 pink Rose ln respiration rate y = x R 2 = /T (1/K) 9

10 Storage: Temperature and Relative Humidity The Effect of Temperature on Vaselife The proper temperature of a cooler should be 34-38F Coolers should be cleaned with DCD or Chrysal Cleaner every two weeks Vaselife (days) Tropical flowers should be stored at 55F or room temperature Relative Humidity should be 80-90% 10

Production 12 3000 10 2500 8 2000 6 1500 4 1000 2 500 0

11 Empirical data on the affects of heat and RH on cut flowers Influence of temperture on vase life in days Heat Production F 45F 68F 0 0 C 12 C 18 C Respiration rate Heat production 11

12 Cooler maintenance What is the best way to get an accurate read on the temperature? What is the humidity level? How often is the compressor serviced? Is bleach the most effective cleaner for cooler walls and shelves? Fat guy breathing only so many breaths 12

13 Profit Thieves Temperature Ethylene Bacteria Botrytis Mechanical Damage Resolutions: 1. be cool 2. Consistent sanitation 3. Work clean 4. Standardize protocols 5. Control your gas 13

14 ETHYLENE 14

15 What is Ethylene? A natural plant hormone internally produced by all plants The only plant hormone existing in the form of a gas. Commonly used to ripen fruits and veggies, but deadly to flowers Ethylene molecules are small enough to migrate through plastic and cardboard Once exposure occurs, damage is irreversible 15

16 What Does Ethylene Do? Causes premature death of many cut flowers and potted plants Reduces the shelf life of many cut flowers and potted plants Sensitive Cut Flowers : carnations, delphinium, larkspur, stock, roses, cut orchids, sweet peas, wax Sensitive Potted Plants: mini roses, kalanchoe, lilies, orchids, impatiens, others 16

17 Ethylene Sources Internal -Flowers/Fruit generate their own ethylene as a hormone External -Other flowers -Fruits & vegetables -Bacteria -Burning organic material -Cigarette smoke -Propane heater or forklift fumes -Auto exhaust 17

18 Symptoms of Ethylene Exposure 18

19 How to Avoid Ethylene Problems Buy treated flowers. Don t over peel guard petals on roses. Clean cuts, no ragged edges. Avoid cramming product in buckets. No deco mosses in the coolers. No fruit basket items, no lunches in coolers. Work clean. Sanitation matters. No smoking in vans. 19

20 BACTERIA 20

21 Damaging Effects of Bacteria If you don t control bacteria here It ends up here 21

22 If you wouldn t drink it, or drink out of it, neither will your flowers. Bacteria colonies double every 20 minutes 22

23 BOTRYTIS 23

The Botrytis Hammer Botrytis What is it?

germinate: MOISTURE Dripping on flower heads

24 The Botrytis Hammer Botrytis What is it? Non-specific, air-borne fungus Loves ALL flowers, fruits, veggies and plants Cross contaminates What Botrytis spores need to germinate: MOISTURE Dripping on flower heads Condensation inside sleeves Overturned wet-packs Wet cooler floors 24

25 How to spot Botrytis 25

26 More examples 26

27 Botrytis Respect the cold chain Keep Flowers DRY Prevent condensation on the flowers! Keep cooler and production floors dry Give breathing room in buckets Avoid mechanical damage WORK CLEAN 27

28 CLEAN HOUSE Ask does it bring you joy? 28

29 Why is Sanitation Important? The walls inside the flower stem (xylem) can be blocked with bacteria. Pores of Xylem This can cause wilting and bent-neck! Proper hydration and sanitation can eliminate this problem. Pores Blocked By Bacteria 29

30 Free Flow vs. Blocked system 30

31 Is bleach your cleaning solution? PROS Aggressive BLEACH Guaranteed to Spot CONS Short lived No residual effect Corrosive to metal Hard on clothes Hard on skin 31

32 Cleaning Schedule 1. Tables, tools, chopper and knives daily 2. Buckets and vases before each filling 3. Floors, coolers and vans-- 2 x week 4. Trash cans, brooms, dust pans--empty daily, sanitize weekly 32

33 FLOWER SOLUTIONS 101 Shutterstock.com 33

34 Solution Review What s the difference between hydration and flower food solutions? Why is ph important? How does your supplier treats his/her flowers? Which solution to use? Guestimate or measure? How long are solutions active? Why change bucket & vase water every other day? 34

35 What s the Difference between Hydration and Flower Food? Hydration solutions kick-start stem flow and lowers ph levels. Flower food kick-starts stem flow, lowers ph levels, AND provides energy to keep blooms standing tall 35

36 Two kinds of Flower Food: BUCKETS: Use holding solutions that contain minimum amount of glucose VASES and FOAM SOAKING BIN: Contains maximum amount of glucose 36

37 ph why it matters Lowering ph dissolves air bubbles in stems & boosts flow Clarifiers in solutions are ph dependent Flowers drink most efficiently between ph Tap water is neutral or close to neutral ph 7 ACID ph of correctly mixed Flower food 37

38 BUCKET FILLING DEMO 38

under- and over-dosing reduce the effectiveness of

39 Importance of Correct Dosing Correct dosage is important for best performance of flower food Both under- and over-dosing reduce the effectiveness of flower food Day 7 Improper dosing results in premature flower death. 39

40 Importance of Correct Dosing! 0% 25% 50% 100% 40

Alternative Facts (honk) Flower food clogs stems and burns foliage Change solutions every other day Home brews work as well as commercial formulas Add Ice.

41 Alternative Facts (honk) Flower food clogs stems and burns foliage Change solutions every other day Home brews work as well as commercial formulas Add Ice. Dip stems in alum. Spray blooms with diluted Elmer s glue Cut stems underwater at 45 degree angle Solutions make bad flowers better Prep solutions with warm water 41

42 Alternative Fact Buster: WARNING: Research shows commercial flower food extends vase life by 50% longer than plain water and is more effective than any combination of aspirin, 7UP, sugar, Vodka, Viagra, cinnamon, bleach, vinegar, pennies, pure water, etc. 42

43 PROTOCOLS 43

44 The story behind stripping & peeling 44

45 Best Practices Temperature management Start and finish clean Right solution-- right sequence --right job Allow time to re-hydrate blooms Use sharp, clean tools Handle with care Ethylene the silent killer Beware of wet heads Use plastic liners in metal containers & lead crystal vases 45

46 Flower handling is easier than rafting, but not as thrilling! 46

47 Questions??? 47

48 Thank you! 48

CARE & HANDLING. Optimal Relative Humidity (RH) should be between 75% 90%. Wet pack and dry pack flowers can both be stored at the same RH.

CARE & HANDLING. Optimal Relative Humidity (RH) should be between 75% 90%. Wet pack and dry pack flowers can both be stored at the same RH. CARE & HANDLING Housekeeping THE COOLER Cooler maintenance is essential: Coils, drain pans and drain lines need to be cleaned three times per year. We suggest that you set up a maintenance schedule before