transporting cut flowers

Laura Rompot

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Mar 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/23/97

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Hello everyone,

I am going to be going home to Wisconsin for Easter and my sister and I
are giving a baby shower while we are home. We'd like to bring home
some cut daffodils and tulips, etc. for the shower, but aren't really
sure how to do it so they won't die enroute.

Any suggestions?

They will be making a pretty long trip...about 9 hours total. Are we
delusional to think we might be able to bring a little spring up to
Wisconsin?

Thanks for any help,
Laura

Kay Lancaster

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Mar 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/24/97

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In article <3335E3...@ibm.net>, Laura Rompot wrote:
>I am going to be going home to Wisconsin for Easter and my sister and I
>are giving a baby shower while we are home. We'd like to bring home
>some cut daffodils and tulips, etc. for the shower, but aren't really
>sure how to do it so they won't die enroute.

Cut the tulips when the buds are closed but clearly showing color on
at least half the flower. Place in 80oF water with flower food; water
should be very deep in relation to stem length. Place in cold room,
32-36oF before readying them to ship. Tie in bundles in wet newspaper,
place in a box where they can be stored upright, and as cool as possible.
At destination, recut base of stem and place in cool water with flower
food; opening will be in about 3 days at 32-36oF. Make sure vases are
kept topped up with fresh water... they're "heavy drinkers".

Single narcissus (daffodils) should be cut when the buds are still fairly
tight, with little or no color showing, while doubles and mult-flowered
types should be cut as the flower is just beginning to open. Place in
warm water as above, store at 32-36oF. Transport in newspaper wrapped
bundles (as for tulips) laid flat in a box; at the destination, hold
them dry, still wrapped, at 34oF for up to a week. As soon as you put
them in water, or the temp rises above 34oF, they start to open.
Recut stems, put them in water with "flower food" when you're ready to
have them start to open.

Narcissus has a latex that is harmful to vase life for other flowers,
so don't mix them in the same vases as tulips unless you have had the
narcissus in water in a vase for 24 hours previously.

Both tulips and narcissus bend toward the light as they are in the vase...
if you need to straighten stems after storage, leave them in a newspaper
cone and place in water under an overhead light.

You can purchase commercial "flower foods" like Flora-life, or you can
make your own with a 50-50 mix of water and lemon-lime soda (7-up equivalent)
with sugar (NOT diet!). Add a drop of bleach to a quart of this mixture.
Works very well for most cut flowers.

Do not store flowers in a refrigerator with fruit or vegetables... chances
are there will be enough ethylene gas about to cause early flower death.

Kay Lancaster k...@fern.com

FloraFona

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Mar 27, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/27/97

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You could try disposable diapers, soaked in water, to retain moisture
around your cut flowers. Also, use a camping cooler, with some ice in it,
to keep them from wilting. Hope this helps. Also, keep them in the
trunk, away from heat. Have a happy Easter!