There are numerous ways flower shops leverage to ensure that flowers remain fresh and well-preserved. Flowers for as long as possible have remained a popular gift, and every flower shop will experience particularly busy times of the year, such as Valentine’s Day.
Owing to that, these shops always need to have storage space that will accommodate greater volumes and they need to ensure that the flowers stay 100% fresh when they reach their customers.
How Flower Shops Can Preserve Flowers and Increase Their Shelf Life
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Proper Hydration
This is one of the most important things when it comes to preserving flowers and ensuring they stay fresh. Keep in mind that clean water serves to ensure that flowers can stay vibrant and retain their freshness for a considerable time.
Dirty water can clog stems, limiting water uptake. Owing to that, flower shops change the water every two days to ensure that the flowers can maintain freshness.
There is also an option of commercial flower food that has nutrients such as sugar for energy and bleach to limit or impede bacterial growth.
If you intend to make use of homemade solutions, you can mix one teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of bleach per quart of water.
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Temperature Control
Note that most flowers thrive in cooler temperatures which works to limit or slow down their ageing processes. Extreme heat can be dangerous to flowers, causing them to wilt, while cold temperatures tend to destroy delicate blooms.
As such, you must aim for a comfortable room temperature. Also, take into account how quickly drafts can dehydrate flowers. Be sure to keep your flower arrangements distant from vents or drafty areas to guarantee they have a stable environment to thrive.
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Pruning and Trimming
You must take trimming leaves below the waterline seriously especially since it ensures the water will remain cleaner as well as elongate flower life.
Also keep in mind that cutting stems at a 45-degree angle with sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears works to boost the surface area for water absorption. Be sure to trim or do away with any wilted or damaged parts so that it doesn’t spread the decay.
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Proper Handling
When it comes to preserving flowers and elongating their shell life, there is nothing as important as proper handling of the flowers.
One of the first things to note is that flowers are delicate and tend to bruise easily. As such, you should handle them carefully during arrangement and transportation to guarantee they retain their beauty.
Do not make the mistake of overcrowding flowers in arrangements as this can easily lead them to bend, break, or bruise. Ensure to give each bloom adequate space to shine and avoid physical damage.
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Humidity Management
Keep in mind that in very dry climates or heated indoor environments, humidifiers are used to add moisture to the air, and this ensures that flowers don’t dry out too quickly.
However, although this could prove to be quite beneficial, you need to understand that excessive moisture could give rise to the development of mold and mildew on flowers and foliage. Owing to that, be sure to pay attention to humidity levels to be certain that they are within the optimal range for your flower type.
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Storage Techniques
Different flowers have different storage requirements and the right one for your flower shop will depend on the composition of your inventory. Nevertheless, note that some flowers, such as roses, tulips, and lilies, will do well with overnight refrigeration.
Consider placing them in a clean vase with water in the refrigerator, far from fruits and vegetables known to produce and circulate ethylene gas. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that hastens the aging process in flowers.