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Cutting Flower Stems underwater adds life to the bloom! The stem of a flower is the lifeline to a bloom. Cutting underwater allows water to enter the stem instead of air. Research has shown that cutting flower stems underwater can significantly increase the life of the bloom of a flower. I begin processing fresh flowers by filling a clean sink with warm water. Add floral preservative to the warm water. Remove any leaves on the stems that may be below the water surface. This helps keep the water clean and fresh. Place the stems of the flowers in the warm water. Using pruning shears or scissors, cut the stems underwater about 1” from the end of the stem. It is best to cut the stem at a 45-degree angle, this allows the most exposure of the surface. After cutting, place the flowers in a clean container of warm water with floral preservative. Allow the flowers to remain in a warm place for 2-3 hours or overnight to absorb water. Placing flowers in a cooler is always helpful. Remember, ethylene gas is harmful to fresh flowers. This gas can be found around produce, especially citrus fruits and lettuce. Flowers like cooler temperatures, around 65 – 70 degrees. Changing the water of the container and re-cutting the stems after 3-4 days will increase the life of your fresh cut flowers.
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Fresh flowers with the beer or with produce – Where do they last longer? When fresh flowers were introduced in the grocery stores in the 1970’s, they were placed in the produce department. That is where the grocers positioned them. Cooler units were filled with fragrance and color. No one told them. They are cutting the shelf life of the flowers in half. Fresh cut flowers are processed and displayed in containers of cold water. This water is usually treated with a flower preservative and at a temperature of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The flowers get their nutrients from this water. Produce and citrus fruits give off ethylene gas. This natural gas is produced in the ripening process of the fruits and vegetables. Ethylene gas is actually a plant hormone that regulates a plant’s growth and development. This can significantly cause fresh cut flowers to mature quicker, cutting the longevity of the blooms. Citrus fruits and lettuce produce higher amounts of this gas. Recently, I visited a new grocery store. In one corner was a cooler the size of a room, filled with beer displays. All of the bottles and boxes are sealed. This would be an optimum place to display fresh flowers The air around the flowers in the produce department contain a gas, but the air in a beer cooler does not.
 Be a Hero by treating Mom with fresh flowers from a local florist! With everyone suggested to remain at home, a spot of spring is always welcome. Many local florists are open and ready for business! Your local florist is only a click or phone call away. Fresh flowers are arranged and ready for delivery. Precautions are taken and everyone’s safety is a priority! This a challenging time to be in business, no one is more affected than the small business owner. Small businesses are challenged daily, but often overlooked in the big picture. When looking for opportunities to surprise and express an emotion, reach out to a local florist. Brighten Mom’s day with an arrangement of fresh spring flowers. Brighten the life of a small business by purchasing flowers from a local florist! Be A Hero to Mom and your local Florist!
 May 6th – National Nurse’s Day Brighten the day of a Nurse with flowers. During this year of 2020, we all know of the sacrifices Nurses have made during the Corona Virus outbreak. Flowers are vibrant, fragrant, and cheerful. May 6th is National Nurse’s Day which begins National Nurse’s Week, May 6-12. Nurse’s Week ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. A flower arrangement can change an environment with fragrance. A single rose is very fragrant. Many people can detect a rose in a room, almost immediately, by the scent. Sending flowers does not have to be flamboyant. A bud vase of a single rose is as emotional as a huge arrangement. Celebrate National Nurse’s Day by sending a flower to the nurse you know!
 A simplistic single rose is filled with the perfect emotion! No single bloom can express more meaning than a single rose bloom. A rose has a language all its own. This is a language that needs no translation. A rose can say “I love you.” or “I’m sorry.” Every individual has their own interpretation. Every interpretation has a situation. Take a chance. Start a conversation. Surprise someone with a single rose.
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