Florists Review tip of the week

Nov 28, 2016  CARING FOR CHRISTMAS GREENS Cut evergreens, both coniferous and leafy types (boxwood, holly, etc.), are staples of the Christmas season. Although they are generally considered long lasting, there are steps you can take to ensure your selections continue to look their holiday best throughout the season and into the new year.  Keep them cool. Set your storage cooler to almost freezing—33 F to 35 F. Maintain hydration. If you have the space to store your fresh greens in water or flower-food solution, go that route. However, many florists don’t have that much cold real estate, so dry storage is more practical. If you have to store yours dry, open the boxes first and allow the branches to cool for a few hours. Then, seal the plastic, and close the box tops. Treating your holiday evergreens properly now will ensure they stay crisp and vibrant once they’re in consumers’ homes and businesses. Avoid ethylene. Although most conifers don’t actually emit high levels of ethylene as once thought, some may be sensitive to the gas. Holly is especially sensitive to ethylene and should have been treated with an ethylene inhibitor prior to arriving in your shop. Mistletoe is also likely to be harmed by exposure, so take precautions when storing it as well. In the classroom we hydrate all our evergreens in hot water and before refrigeration let the water come to room temperature. (2-4 hours).  Our evergreens are very long lasting.  We also provide flower food in our water that is properly proportioned as directed. We water our fresh Christmas trees with very hot water to dissolve the sap and allow the tree to drink/hydrate every day.  Don't forget to make that new cut across the bottom so your tree can hydrate. We all love learning new things....Join a class and enjoy all the new things you will learn, working with amazing flowers!

Christina Burton-Fox AIFD floral artist & instructor