Sunflower Moves into the Spotlight
Floralife has expanded the Flower Care and Handling section of our website to offer a bunch of useful tips for the postharvest processing of many different varieties of cut flowers. Grower, wholesaler, retailer, enthusiast – there’s something for everybody. Let’s go down the list! Today’s star is the Sunflower!
The Sunflower, scientific name Helianthus, is originally from the Midwestern and Western USA. The Sunflower comes in shades of yellow, red, brown and orange. As always, Floralife has some practical Sunflower care and handling tips for the grower, the wholesaler and the retailer. Here is a preview.
| For the grower, you will find harvesting recommendations for the Sunflower, specifically in relation to the dreaded ethylene. Some sources suggest that the Sunflower is ethylene-sensitive. In which case, you might try an ethylene-action inhibitor, such as Floralife’s EthylBloc™ Technology.Then, use Floralife’s HydraFlor® 100 hydrating treatment for 1 – 2 hours immediately after harvest or overnight in a cooler. Transfer flowers into a holding solution of a properly mixed Floralife® Flower Food 300 or Floralife® 200 storage and transport treatment products. Your flowers are then ready for shipment / storage.
For the Wholesaler and Retailer, Floralife offers buying tips. DO look for an open Sunflower with visible pollen. DON’T buy flowers with yellow or dried leaves. Unpack Sunflowers immediately, remove foliage below the solution level, and recut the stems. Pretreatment: If the Sunflower wasn’t treated previously with EthylBloc™ Technology, do so now. Promote water uptake and hydration with one of Floralife’s Flower Foods (see “Holding Solution” below.) As for hydration, try a half-hour soak Floralife’s Hydraflor® 100 to promote water uptake. OR, try Floralife® Quick Dip 100 instant hydrating treatment. More details at the original article. Holding Solution: Use fresh flower food at the recommended rate, including Flower Food 300, Floralife® 200 or Floralife® Clear 200, Floralife® Clear ULTRA 200 or Special Blend 300 storage treatment solutions. That’s your preview of Floralife’s Sunflower Care and Handling article. There is a lot more at the original piece, including discussion on Sunflower vase life, ethylene sensitivity, storage temperature tips and troubleshooting advice, so check it out! Are you a Sunflower fan? Tell us all about it in the comments section! Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net/ foto76 |