Conditioning Cut Flowers for Floral Design or Cut Horticulture Entry
Martha Marsh
CUTTING
Cut with sharp clippers, preferably in the evening when plant is filled with carbohydrates, or in early morning when dew is on the flowers. Place in water immediately upon cutting whenever possible. In summer, if possible, cut after rain when flowers are turgid.
Reserve special clippers for flowers only. To sharpen clippers or scissors, you can cut tin foil.
CONDITIONING
Flowers or foliage are conditioned by placing in water or conditioning solution for at least one hour, preferably overnight. Floral preservative may be added to water.
Most spring flowers should be conditioned in cool water.
Most summer soft stemmed flowers should be conditioned in warm water up to their necks.
Most summer tougher stemmed flowers should be conditioned in cool, shallow water.
If planning on using shorter stemmed flowers, condition them short.
Florist or grocery store flowers have already been in conditioning solution, so recut stems and place in cool water. Warmer water can be used to encourage flowers like roses to open.
** Extra insurance: stick the stem end in water, cut off at least 1” with your snips UNDER WATER to eliminate an air bubble which will impede the flow of water up the stem. Sometimes you can even see an air bubble which was already there rise up. Every time you cut a stem shorter, you need to repeat this process. Do this for both Design and Hort Cut Entries