Before creating an amazing arrangement or bouquet you must condition the stems. Conditioning the stems will ensure the flowers and foliage will remain at their very best for the longest period possible.
Start by re-cutting the stems, stems dry out quickly and can be prone to stem blockages (an air-lock) so this is essential to prolong the life of the bloom. The airlock usually forms when the stem is first cut, atmospheric pressure pushes air into the water ducts creating a blockage and thus reducing the stems natural vacuum. It is very important that you cut the bottom of the stems at an angle so that there is the largest possible surface area of the xylem tissue (the central area of the stem) exposed to absorb the water. Cutting the stem at an angle gives it a single point of contact when resting at the bottom of the vase or bucket, helping to keep a good flow of water into the stem and creating less chance of any bacteria forming. Remove any foliage from the lower part of the stem which will keep the water clear and fresh and free from bacteria.
When cut and stripped of excess foliage, put the stems into a bucket which is quarter full of warm water. Warm water allows the the stem to absorb at a far greater pace. If you are cutting bulb flowers use cool water, unless you want them to open quickly of course. When storing flowers in water ensure that the water and container are clean to prevent any build up of bacteria. Leave the flowers in the water for two to three hours before arranging your bouquet.
In days gone by it was thought that hammering the stem ends (especially woody ends) would prolong the life of the flower. Thankfully this is no longer the case as it causes damage to the stem tissue, making it almost impossible for the stem to take up water. Hammering the stems also leads to a build up of bacteria when stored in water which will shorten the life of the bloom.
There are many different stems - woody, semi woody, soft, hollow, milky and bulbous. Each stem type should be treated differently when conditioning. For instance most bulbous stems are pulled and not cut when supplied direct from the grower. Pulled bulbous flowers will have white and firm stems. The stem will not absorb from the white area, so this has to be removed leaving only the green part of the stem. Each plant has it’s own special requirements and I will write about these in future blog posts.
A question I am often asked is ‘how do I revive floppy flower heads?’ Well there is one way that is tried and tested… Get a few sheets of newspaper or any other suitable paper you have to hand, roll it around the flowers so that all the heads are now upright. Re-cut the stem at an angle allowing for a larger surface area for the plant to absorb water. Put the flowers (now wrapped in newspaper) into some deep water, give it a couple of hours, take out and hey-presto… you now have upright flower heads, brilliant.
When you buy flowers by post from a quality brand like Blakeworth you can be assured that the flowers in each bouquet created have been conditioned correctly and treated in the best possible way to ensure the longest lasting display of quality flowers.
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