Flower Care & Preparation
Receiving Wholesale Flowers
Our flowers are shipped directly from our partner farms. Receiving wholesale flowers is different than receiving flowers from a grocer or florist. Depending on the type of flower there may be extra leaves/foliage, thorns, guard petals, anthers, etc. that can be removed. Following the important care and preparation steps below will help ensure the quality and extend the vase-life of your flowers for as long as possible. Most flowers require the same general care however there are a few that need special attention. If your flower requires additional care steps it will be listed below, simply click on the type of flower to be taken directly to the page that details the care for your flowers. If you do not see your flower type listed below, please continue to the General Flower Care section.
Flowers may arrive looking “sleepy” or “thirsty” after their journey, this is NORMAL, please follow the care tips to begin hydrating your flowers properly. We always recommend that you care for your flowers immediately upon arrival. Many of these flowers have just completed an international journey and will be thirsty. We can’t stress enough that this is normal and there’s no need to be alarmed, your flowers need water and time to hydrate for their big debut. You are going to provide care for the flowers just like a professional florist!
General Flower Care
- Open your boxes and inspect your flowers. Remove flowers from box by cutting any straps. Do not remove the rubber bands holding the flowers together in a bunch.
- Fill containers with at least 4 inches of fresh, cool water. Mix flower food in the water to prevent bacteria and give added nutrients to the flowers. If you do not have flower food, it can be purchased at any local florist. We can not guarantee that every farm-fresh shipment will include these, flower food can be purchased from a local florist.
- Remove any foliage from the flowers that falls below the waterline of your vase. In removing foliage, care should be taken not to damage the stem. The reason for removing any foliage below the waterline is to prevent growth of mold or bacteria which could cause premature wilting.
- Cut stems diagonally under running water using sharp scissors or a knife, approximately one inch from the stem’s bottom edge. An angled cut will allow for a larger surface area for water absorption and prevents the ends of your stems from sitting flat in the container blocking water absorption. Immediately after cutting, place the stems in the prepared water.
- Allow flowers at least 4 hours to hydrate well. Most flowers will take up to 8 to 12 hours to properly hydrate.
- Keep flowers in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight, drafts or excessive heat.
- Change water every 24 hours and re-cut stems every 24 to 48 hours to keep flowers fresh. Assure that your flowers have sufficient water. The flowers will drink an exceptionally large amount of water upon arrival.
Storing Your Flowers
Remember that exposing flowers to warm environments (outside, a hot room, sunlight, etc.) will help the flowers bloom, and storing your flowers in a cooler environment will slow down the opening process. Most flowers should be kept in a cool, dark location unless you are trying to speed up the blooming process. Always avoid direct sunlight and excessive heat.
Also, keep flowers away from fruits, vegetables and/or plants which produce ethylene gas. Ethylene in the surrounding area could cause your flowers to wilt.
Roses
1. Remove roses from box by cutting any straps. Do not remove the cardboard sleeve or the rubber bands holding the roses together in a bunch. It is recommended to leave the cardboard sleeve on for 4 to 8 hours while the roses hydrate and then remove once well hydrated. Remove all plastic packaging from around the roses. Check to make sure you received the correct amount of flowers.
**Note: Our roses are packed 25 stems per bunch. The picture on the left, is a top view of 1 bunch of roses. At this angle it looks like there are only 12 roses. Our roses are packed in layers to insure protection during shipping. Below this layer is a second layer which hold the other 13 rose stems. If you are unsure, flip the bunch over and count the STEMS instead of the rose heads and you will see there are 25 per bunch. All of our flowers are standardized packed 25 per bunch.
2. Fill containers with at least 4 inches of fresh, cool water. Mix flower food in the water to prevent bacteria and give added nutrients to the flowers. If you do not have flower food, it can be purchased at any local florist. We can not guarantee that every farm-fresh shipment will include these, flower food can be purchased at a local florist.
3. We ship our roses with guard petals in order to protect the rose during shipping. Upon removal of the protective packaging, carefully pluck off any brown or discolored guard petals. It is not uncommon to remove an average of 5-10 petals per rose.
Remember that exposing roses to heat will help the flower to bloom, and storing your roses in a cooler environment will slow down the opening process
4. Remove any foliage from the flowers that falls below the waterline of your vase. In removing foliage, care should be taken not to damage the stem. The reason for removing any foliage below the waterline is to prevent growth of mold or bacteria which could cause premature wilting,
5. Cut stems diagonally under running water using sharp scissors or a knife, approximately one inch from the stem’s bottom edge. An angled cut will allow for a larger surface area for water absorption and prevents the ends of your stems from sitting flat in the container blocking water absorption. Immediately after cutting, place the stems in the prepared water.
6. Allow the roses at least 4 hours to hydrate well. It can take up to 8 to 12 hours to properly hydrate. If you see that some flowers are still drooping after 3-4 hours, it's possible an air bubble has formed, re-cut following the above directions.
7. Keep flowers in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight, drafts, or excessive heat.
8. To keep the roses fresh, change the water every 24 to 48 hours or when the water becomes cloudy. The water color will change if this is a tinted rose. Simply change water as directed. Assure that your roses have sufficient water at all times. They will drink an exceptionally large amount of water upon arrival.
Tip: Wear protective gloves while handling your roses as thorns may be present and tinted roses can stain hands or clothing!