Roses are globally the most popular and recognizable flower variety. Immortalized in countless ways throughout history, roses can be found in art and literature throughout the centuries. Blooms span nearly the full color spectrum from shades of pastels to pure saturated colors to bold confident hues in solid, striped or variegated petals. Roses do need attention to ensure best quality but if you follow a few care and handling tips, roses are the perfect choice for any design style or occasion.
Problems & Solutions
Problem:
Ethylene Sensitivity
Solution:
Many varieties are ethylene sensitive. Ethylene sensitivity and ethylene production in roses are highly fluctuating among cultivars. Symptoms include poor opening, wilting, petal shattering, petal discoloration and leaf drop. To minimize risk due to ethylene exposure, Roses can benefit from an ethylene action-inhibitor product such as EthylBloc™* during storage and transportation or from an STS treatment at farm level such as FloraLife® EthylGuard*.
Problem:
Disease Sensitivity
Solution:
Roses are susceptible to botrytis, affecting flower petals, leaves and stems significantly reducing vase life. Symptoms include brown blotches and gray fuzzy growth. Recommended to spray or dip after harvest at farm level with an anti-botrytis agent before transport and storage. Do not over pack boxes to allow good airflow and avoid mechanical damage, which creates an entrance for Botrytis. Avoid temperature fluctuations during shipping to prevent any condensation inside packaging.
Problem:
Physical / Mechanical Damage
Solution:
Roses are very susceptible to physical or mechanical damage. It is critical to protect blooms with special packaging and secure bunches well inside of box and buckets to ensure blooms do not move too much during transport avoiding creasing or bruising of petals.
Problem:
Bent Neck
Solution:
Bent neck can be caused by a number of issues such as dehydration, exposure to high temperature or low humidity, exposure to ethylene, and high microbe growth. A rose that exhibits early bent neck conditions may be revived by re-cutting stems and placing into freshly made hydration or flower food solution.
Need to Know: Roses Helpful Hints
Properly Dosing and Mixing Flower Food: The Benefits
- Helps blooms fully develop and open
- Helps Roses stay hydrated and avoid wilting
- Longer vase life
- Results in better color development
Keep them Fresh!
- Pre-treat with ethylene action-inhibitor products such as EthylBloc™ during storage and transportation or FloraLife® EthylGuard* at farm level, and hydrate with FloraLife® Express Clear 100 after harvest.
- Treat with FloraLife® Shield Ultra at farm level.
- Recommended flower food solution for storage/transport: FloraLife® Clear Rose 200* or FloraLife® Express Clear ULTRA 200.
- Recommended flower food solution for end consumers: FloraLife® Rose Food 300*, FloraLife® Express Universal 300, FloraLife® Universal 300* or FloraLife Crystal Clear® packets.
- Cooler / Storage temperature should be 34-38°F, 1-3°C. If storing dry, target the lower end of the temperature range (34-36F / 1-2C) in a cooler with minimal traffic.
- Roses can ship dry or wet without issue. Line your boxes with FloraLife® Transport Paper sheets prior to shipping from farms.
Performance
- Average vase life for Roses is 5-15 days, depending on the variety and care conditions.
- Opening speed varies by variety and cut stage. Opening speed will increase with warmer ambient temperatures.
- Roses can be mixed with other flowers without any negative effects.
- When processing, the protective wrap around the rose heads should be left in place to support the flower heads for 1-2 hours during hydration. Remove foliage that falls below the solution level, but do not over-strip since the foliage aides in the hydration process. Do not over pack buckets to allow good airflow to avoid condensation and physical damage. If you aren't using FloraLife® Express technology, you'll want to re-cut stems. Roses are a thirsty crop, check solution levels daily. If water levels become low, you should repeat your processing steps replenishing with a freshly made flower food solution. Maintaining proper sanitation will maximize vase life.
- Extremely versatile, Roses can be used in arrangements, bouquets, or for more delicate corsage or boutonniere work. Roses can be used as a vertical line flower in arrangements to achieve height, massed for color blocking, or as focal flowers. Performs well in foam if hydrated enough. If designing in foam use OASIS® Deluxe Floral Foam Maxlife for best hydration and hydrate stems overnight prior to designing. Cut stems at an angle before inserting into foam and check foam saturation daily to keep stems hydrated.
- Use FloraLife® Finishing Touch spray once designs are complete to keep blooms fresh and hydrated.
FIFO
- Our recommendation for inventory rotation is to follow the FIFO (First in First Out) guidelines. Adhering to cold chain protocols, for best end consumer vase life experience, Roses should be stored no longer than 7 days. If storing wet pack, check water levels occasionally to be sure stems stay hydrated.
Want to learn more about Roses? Visit FloraLife.com or contact your local representation for an in-person consultation!
*Product availability depends upon geographical region. Check here for more information.