D. Optional Conditioning Techniques for Garden Specimens
1. There is much debate about whether stems should be cut under water to avoid
pushing air up into the vessels. The first cut in the garden definitely introduces air into the vessels so it is up to the exhibitor as to their preference on later cuts.
2. Conditioning solutions are also an option. There are many garden club recipes and professional mixes but most provide some type of carbohydrate with either Clorox, vinegar or a clarifying agent to keep the bacterial under control. Many feel that some carbohydrates help nourish the specimen since its ability to conduct photosynthesis has been limited and the supply of stored starch is being diminished. On the other hand, plant cells in crisis do very little processing and introducing a solution high in carbohydrates can actually cause dehydration of cellular tissue. A safe option is to just use clear, clean tepid water or if an exhibitor wishes to try a conditioning solution he/she should wait till the specimens have been stabilized and fully hydrated.
3. Many pamphlets and articles have been written subscribing to the use of alcohol, peppermint oil, Epson salts, alum, table salt and other various produce to condition or revive specific plant material. Common sense should prevail when experimenting with products that will alter the chemistry of a cut specimen already stressed. Certainly an exhibitor should try these products well ahead of the show to avoid a fatal mistake the day or night before the flower show.
V. "First Aid" for Florist Flowers and Foliage
A. Home Preparation
Clean conditioning buckets and clippers with a Clorox solution. Have all materials including bloom
supports ready for plant materials before leaving home. B. Purchasing
1. Choose your floral supplier carefully. Reputable florists generally buy higher grade floral materials. Grocery stores and large discount stores purchase end lots or lower grade materials. Bargains can be found but generally the blooms are smaller, the stems weaker, and the shelf life shorter.
2. Purchase plant material that is the freshest and most turgid. The condition of the foliage can be a good indicator of the age of the material. Flowers with foliage that is in poor condition, limp or has been removed should be avoided.
3. Care should be taken when purchasing floral stems that a majority of the blooms or florets are beginning to break bud and show color. Avoid stems where all the blooms are in tight bud or all the blooms are fully open unless they will be used within 24 hrs. Tropicals with bruised spots on the bloom, even if the bloom is in good condition, should also be avoided. Bruised areas deteriorate rapidly and become very obvious after conditioning.
4. Special bloom supports such as netting, plastic sleeves, cardboard, and wiring are a plus
when purchasing plant material. These supports protect the bloom from damage and support the neck and stem which may be soft and weak due to dehydration. C. Transporting
1. Prepare an area in your car where the materials can lay flat and the blooms are protected. A florist box for transport is ideal. Material transported for a short distance do not need to be in water. If not boxed, the flowers should be double wrapped in tissue by the florist to protect from damage.
2. Purchasing flowers should be the last errand to run. To reduce the trauma of transition from store to home make sure on very hot days the car is cooled and on days the temperature is below freezing, warm the car. Cover the plant material before leaving the florist to protect the material from the wind and freezing temperatures on the way to the car.
3. Unload flowers first from the car. Cut stems and condition materials within 30 minutes.