How do you preserve all that delicate floral handiwork maintaining the quality and freshness so that you can work in advance and keep things moving? The answer lies in finishing sprays.
What is a finishing spray and how does it work?
“Finishing Sprays”, as the name suggests, are just that, the final post-harvest treatment that is applied to “Finish” the product/arrangement before leaving with the customer from the retailer. There are different types of finishing sprays, each yielding different results, so it is important to understand what each product is designed to do before applying. One of the most common product questions is the difference between finishing sprays and when they should be used. The biggest misconception is that they are all the same. Floralife® Crowning Glory® and Floralife® Finishing Touch are two types of finishing sprays that work in very different ways and should be used for different applications.
Floralife® Crowning Glory®
A staple in most flower shops, Floralife® Crowning Glory® is a ready-to-use spray that provides a clear polymer coating to the flower, stem, and foliage, and is all about reducing water loss. This protective clear coating effectively reduces water loss on floral arrangements and products that have limited or no access to water (e.g. corsages, boutonnieres, headpieces, and hand-tied bouquets). Cut flower foliage, and to a lesser extent flower petals and stems, contain microscopic pores called stomata. Functioning stomata are made of two guard cells that permit the stomate (pore) to open and close in response to changing environmental conditions. Stomata occur primarily on the undersides of leaves. The pores allow for the exchange of gasses like carbon dioxide and oxygen, but they also serve as the primary means of transporting water up the flower stem. As water evaporates from the leaf surface via the open stomata, it “pulls” water up the stems plumbing system or xylem – this process is called transpiration. Cut flowers like hydrangea, which have high leaf surface area, are prone to wilting because they can potentially lose more water from their leaves than can be replenished by uptake through the stem. The relationship between the water loss from the stomata and uptake through the stem is called water balance, and when the cut flower is out of balance they tend to expire very quickly. Floralife® Crowning Glory®'s protective coating reduces this water loss. After you've created your gorgeous design simply apply evenly as directed to the flower, stem, and foliage of the finished arrangement, corsage, etc. The spray should be allowed to dry prior to placing the flowers in the flower cooler to hold prior to the event.
Floralife® Finishing Touch
This finishing spray is a ready-to-use spray that fortifies the finished arrangement to promote flower opening, color development, foliage quality, and hydration. Perfect for weddings and event work, it is specifically formulated for use on finished arrangements that are utilized for longer durations and have access to a water source via vase or foam. The active ingredients in Floralife® Finishing Touch are absorbed by the flower petals and leaves, working to fortify the cut flower from the inside out. Floralife® Finishing Touch should be evenly applied to the finished vase or foam arrangement and allowed to dry before holding in the flower cooler. This product brings every stem to life helping flowers to be their most vibrant and long lasting.
How to?
Floralife® Crowning Glory® and Floralife® Finishing Touch are two finishing spray products that work wonderfully but will only give you the results you're looking for when used as intended. They may be related but they are definitely not the same! Take extra care when reaching for your spray when working on your next design. Floralife® Crowning Glory is your go to for designs or products fresh out of water (e.g. corsages and headpieces) or events and arrangements that you are biting your nails that wilting and water loss might be an issue (e.g. outdoor reception). Floralife® Finishing Touch is a spray that fortifies the flowers in the arrangement by promoting flower opening, color development, foliage quality, and hydration. It can be used on all arrangements that are designed for extended use and have access to a water source via vase or foam. No matter your design, a finishing spray is peace of mind that the designs you pull out of the cooler before an event will be just as fresh as the ones you put into the cooler!
Product availability depends upon geographical region