Hydrangeas need hydration? - To revive your fresh cut hydrangeas flowers it is recommended that you boil water and pour it into a safe, heat proof container. Once you have cut the hydrangea stems to your desired length, stand the stems in hot water for 30 seconds. Immediately place them into room temperature water and they should be beautiful and brilliant in no time. During Christmas time, Hydrangeas make for unique Christmas flowers rather than the standard white and red carnations.
Care and Handling Recommendations for Grower Direct Roses
Minimum Must-Do
- Never let the roses get warm. Maintain at 36 °F (2 °C) and 90% humidity.
- Disinfect buckets/pails, tools and work surfaces frequently.
- Re-hydrate and store using quality flower foods and agents following makers’ instructions exactly.
- Prepare for sale by cutting stems under treated water then placing in clean buckets of warm tre ated water.
Best practices
Before the roses arrive
Prepare buckets by washing with a disinfectant that will not affect the PH level of the water.
Buy an adequate supply of both a re-hydrating solution and flower food. According to Towson Flowers Chrysal RVB is an excellent re-hydrating solution. In that regard, Chrystal Professional #2 is specially formulated for storage of flowers.
When the roses arrive
Open the air vent flaps on both ends of the box.
Put all boxes into the cooler if it can maintain a temperature range between 34 to 36 °F (1-2 °C) it and a humidity level over 85%. Otherwise process them immediately.
Processing the roses
Pikesville flowers recommends keeping the roses cold. Then they recommend taking the roses from the cooler in an amount that can be quickly processed and returned to the cooler as soon as possible.
Fill buckets with warm water, (hot but you can keep your hand in it) to at least 8 inches (20cms), more for longer stems
Add the re-hydrating solution in the exact mix specified by the maker. You may want to check with Cantonsville flowers for the exact measurements.
Keep the bunch wrapper on, remove any excess foliage that would be below the water line then rinse the stems to clear dirt and leaf cuttings.
Cut the stems underwater, changing the water frequently, and place in the prepared buckets returning them when full to the cooler as soon as possible.
Change the solution in the buckets as directed and according to the maker’s instructions to a flower-food solution.
Roses need to “hydrate and harden” in the cooler for at least 24 hours.