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Handle with Care supplier of postharvest care and handling prod - ucts. “It’s not perfect—sometimes a virus or bacteria get through, and a stem flops over. But handle with care generally speaking, it works quite well.” By Bruce Wright With the roots taken away, what remains are the specialized cells within the plant stem that conduct water and nutrients from the soil In the first column of our new care and handling up to the leaves and the flower. It helps to un - derstand a little about these cells. Given their series: a look inside the stem of a cut flower. function, it’s not surprising that they are pipe- shaped: long, with a very narrow diameter. These long cells are connected end to end in Why should you care IT’S SAD BUT TRUE: from the mo - even longer tubes. “You can think of them as about handling? ment a flower is cut, it begins to die. very narrow drinking straws, bundled together. Still, at that moment, it is still glori - There are two reasons why it’s worth - That’s basically the way a stem is,” says Gay. ously alive—capable of continuing “And every inch or so, between those verti - while spending extra time and money its life cycle by drawing moisture and cal columns, are semipermeable cell plates to make sure cut flowers last longer. nourishment from the cut end of its that help to reduce or keep out any kind of for - One, good care and handling pro - stem up to the bloom, which can de - eign matter,” she continues. “These cell plates cedures will save you money and velop and flourish if the right condi - are the only reason why, if you put a flower in boost your profits. “This isn’t just tions are met. Of course, our job as water that has bacteria in it, the bacteria won’t something you want to do because it’s florists is to meet those conditions: move all the way up; 98% of it lodges in the the right thing,” says W. Kurt to prolong the flower’s life as long as bottom.” The problem is that without the filter - Schroeder AIFD, AAF, PFCI, of WKS As - possible. ing system of the roots, the cell plates easily sociates in Deptford, New Jersey, a Most florists know the basic rules become so clogged—with debris, bacteria, or floral-industry consultant and an ex - for how to do this: what to do to keep air bubbles—that the movement of water and pert on postharvest care. “This is fresh cut flowers alive. What we’d nutrients is impeded. like to do in this first installment of something you do because it’s a key “That’s why it’s so important to recut one to our new care and handling column strategy to insure your survival as a two inches from the stem whenever it’s been is go a little more deeply than out of clean water,” says Gay. “Everybody’s business.” usual into why these strategies been guilty of giving that micro cut on a stem. In the current economic climate, work—and why, occasionally, With flowers, the longer the stem, the higher most florists are looking for ways to they don’t. What are the bio - the price. But you need to cut off at least an cut costs. How many ways are there to logical and chemical facts be - inch to make sure you’ve eliminated the stuff cut costs that not only don’t compro - hind the “rules” that will help you that was stuck in the bottom.” mise quality, but that actually guaran - follow them with sound logic, flex - tee higher quality in the products that leave your shop? ibility, and most of all, consistent re - “After you’ve cut and carved and downsized everywhere else, controlling your perish - sults? It begins with understanding “care and Grace under pressure ables is one of the best means available to help you be more profitable,” says Kurt. handling” from the flower’s point of view. What makes the water and nutrients move up the stem? The same thing that keeps the stem, “Everybody talks about the cost of flower food, of paying someone to clean buckets. But and the leaves and blossom, turgid (firm) if you reduce replacements and shrinkage by just a little, care and handling will more rather than floppy: turgor pressure. The walls than pay for itself. It should be considered as, not a cost, but a profit saver.” Clean pipes We all know that plants draw water mixed of plant cells are not inherently rigid, but flexi - Kurt believes most florists throw out 8% to 15% of what they buy in. “They will tell with nutrients up into themselves from the ble; the only reason the stem of a cut flower you, ‘No, I hardly throw out anything.’ But this is the average—8% to 15%. If you can earth. That’s amazing! What’s even more stands upright is that it’s full of water. As water shave even two or three percent off of that, you have considerable savings. Calculate this amazing is that plants draw only what they evaporates from the leaves and the blossom amount in relation to your annual cost of goods sold for fresh flowers, and you’ll see that need—water mixed with just the right miner - and all the top cells of the stem, it creates a the amount you save more than pays for the expense of the labor and materials involved.” als and other elements to help the plant main - powerful natural pressure, like a vacuum. Two, the benefits in terms of reputation and customer loyalty are incalculable. “Think tain the right pH and perform photosynthesis This pressure is enabled by the specialized about it,” says Kurt: “when customers compliment you on your flowers in a big way, is it and other functions. structure of the cells. It’s so powerful that, from generally about how beautiful something was, or about how long something lasted in their “Before the flower is cut, the roots are a fil - the moment you cut a stem, that cut stem end homes? It’s the latter that makes an indelible impression, the kind that people talk about tering system,” explains Gay Smith, technical is sucking against gravity, looking to pull in and that keeps them coming back.” consulting manager for Chrysal Americas, the water. “You have between one and ten seconds Flo we rs& Flo we rs& to get it into hydration solution or flower-food sure, “hardened off.”) The stomata help the dragons are among the best-known examples. solution—or at the very least, clean water,” stem draw in water from its cut end. Because they grow in a direction against the says Gay. “Because if you don’t, it will suck pull of gravity or towards the light, or both, their in air and whatever else is around it—and growth is evident in twisted and angled stems. there are always plenty of bacteria all around Sugar cravings In others, growth stops or slows way down— us.” In nature, plants manufacture sugar through but the cells at the top of the stem, just under On average, when a flower rehydrates photosynthesis. Sugar is an important part of the flower head, remain the youngest and after being shipped dry and then being recut, the chemistry of plant cells. “The cycle of pho - weakest cells. They are the most vulnerable to about 70 percent of the hydration takes place tosynthesis is about taking light and oxygen any obstruction in the flow of water and nutri - within the first hour. This is why the first drink and water and turning it into starches and sug - ents inside the stem—hence the phenomenon is so important. “If the flower gets filled up ars,” Gay reminds us. “When the flower is cut, of “bent neck” in roses and gerberas, which oc - with tap water the first time, or dirty water, photosynthesis is much reduced. So you need curs, not because the flower head is heavy, but you’re kidding yourself,” notes Gay. “Bacteria to replace that sugar.” This is why flower foods because the cells just below it are the most im - exert enormous pressure on successful up - contain sugar. They also contain clarifying mature. take by impeding flow across the cell plates agents and acidifiers, to keep the water clean and blocking the internal filtering system.” and to lower the pH. Underwater cutters, which became popu - Most cut flowers are harvested before they Acid test lar in the ’90s, in theory get around the prob - have reached full maturity. They require energy Two other factors to be aware of in the life of a lem created by turgor pressure by immersing to continue the process of opening, developing cut flower are pH and hormones. “The pH of the stem in water while it’s being cut. The color and fragrance. If that energy isn’t provided tap water is too alkaline for good movement of challenge is to keep that water from water through cells,” says Gay. Lowering the becoming contaminated with bac - pH does two things: It dissolves air bubbles in - teria as cut stems “bleed” bacteria side the water column in the stem, and it im - and enzymes during the cutting proves the action of the biocides that kill process. The water needs to be bacteria in the water. Air bubbles and bacteria changed frequently and the tank are the two big stem blockers—so pH is criti - and blades sanitized.
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