Care and Handling

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Improve Your Bottom Line Improve Your Bottom Line Without Spending a DimeWithout Spending a Dime

Jan 2011Jan 2011

Gay SmithGay SmithTechnical Consulting ManagerTechnical Consulting Manager

Chrysal AmericasChrysal Americas

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TopicsTopics Providing what Mother Nature Providing what Mother Nature

cannotcannot TemperatureTemperature ChallengesChallenges SanitationSanitation Best practices Best practices Solution specificsSolution specifics

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““Luck is a matter of preparation Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity”meeting opportunity”

oprah winfreyoprah winfrey

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Botany 101: Botany 101: photosynthesis is the conversion photosynthesis is the conversion of (sunlight + COof (sunlight + CO2 2 + water) = O+ water) = O22 + sugars + sugars

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The The secret secret

sex sex lives lives

of of plantsplants

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Mimicking Mother Nature Mimicking Mother Nature

Flowers need to drink Flowers need to drink bacteria-free bacteria-free solutions solutions

Some species need Some species need plant hormonesplant hormones

Flowers require Flowers require foodfood to stretch cells to stretch cells

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TEMPERATURE MATTERSTEMPERATURE MATTERS Why growers pack in coolerWhy growers pack in cooler Boxes pre-cooled in MiamiBoxes pre-cooled in Miami Do you probe? Why not? Do you probe? Why not? Temp of arriving flowers < 40FTemp of arriving flowers < 40F Cooler set point: 34-36FCooler set point: 34-36F Tropical coolers 50FTropical coolers 50F

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What’s the big deal What’s the big deal about cold chain about cold chain management??management?? Stem bendingStem bending Wilting Wilting Flower opening Flower opening Flower drop Flower drop Ethylene Ethylene Bacterial Bacterial developmentdevelopment CONDENSATION CONDENSATION

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#1 disease challenge is Botrytis-#1 disease challenge is Botrytis- Non-specific fungus diseaseNon-specific fungus disease Needs water or high humidity Needs water or high humidity Spreads—cross-contaminationSpreads—cross-contamination Lives on live and dead tissuesLives on live and dead tissues Gives off ethylene as it developsGives off ethylene as it develops

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Botrytis ControlBotrytis Control Respect cold chainRespect cold chain Keep blooms dry Keep blooms dry Keep cooler floors dryKeep cooler floors dry Work cleanWork clean Allow breathing room in bucketsAllow breathing room in buckets Careful handling--mechanical Careful handling--mechanical

damage opens the door to infectiondamage opens the door to infection

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Flowers bleed when cutFlowers bleed when cut

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BacteriaBacteria#1 reason stems get clogged#1 reason stems get clogged

Best line of defense?Best line of defense? Sanitation with a professional cleanerSanitation with a professional cleaner Frequent sanitation—toolsFrequent sanitation—tools Sharp toolsSharp tools

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ETHYLENE GAS—Silent, but deadlyETHYLENE GAS—Silent, but deadly Ripening hormoneRipening hormone Deadly to flowers in minute amountsDeadly to flowers in minute amountsSOURCES: SOURCES: Fruits, veggies & flowersFruits, veggies & flowers Combustion engine exhaustCombustion engine exhaust Cigarette smoke, BBQs, fireplaces,Cigarette smoke, BBQs, fireplaces, Bacteria, yeast and fungi Bacteria, yeast and fungi Wounds and bruises trigger production Wounds and bruises trigger production

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Ethylene SymptomsEthylene Symptoms

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How to Avoid Ethylene ProblemsHow to Avoid Ethylene Problems Buy treated flowers. Buy treated flowers. Don’t peel rose petals unnecessarilyDon’t peel rose petals unnecessarily Clean cuts, no ragged edgesClean cuts, no ragged edges Avoid cramming in bucketsAvoid cramming in buckets No deco mosses in coolers No deco mosses in coolers No fruit basket items, no lunches in coolersNo fruit basket items, no lunches in coolers Work cleanWork clean Treat coolers with Ethylene Buster Treat coolers with Ethylene Buster

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Solutions--Rebalance HSolutions--Rebalance H220 Relations0 Relations

Solutions kick-start flowSolutions kick-start flow

Wetting agents boost flowWetting agents boost flow

Nutrients provide energyNutrients provide energy

Hormones reduce stressHormones reduce stress

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What is Flower Food?What is Flower Food? Acidifiers lower pH of tap waterAcidifiers lower pH of tap water Clarifiers keep pollution in checkClarifiers keep pollution in check Nutrients provide energy for opening Nutrients provide energy for opening

and holding in vaseand holding in vase

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Why use it? Why use it?

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FlowerFlowerFoodFoodvs. vs.

WaterWater

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2000 Trends2000 TrendsSpecial foods for special needsSpecial foods for special needs

Roses—hard to hydrateRoses—hard to hydrate Delphinium—ethylene sensitiveDelphinium—ethylene sensitive Gerberas—the ”Mr Clean” of flowersGerberas—the ”Mr Clean” of flowers Bulb flowers—hormones out of syncBulb flowers—hormones out of sync Sugar lovers Sugar lovers Big drinkersBig drinkers

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Symptoms of Symptoms of whacked-out hormones whacked-out hormones

Buds don’t open Buds don’t open Buds shrivel and drop offBuds shrivel and drop off Foliage turns yellow FASTFoliage turns yellow FAST Vase life is super shortVase life is super short Color vibrancy is lost after 2-3 daysColor vibrancy is lost after 2-3 days

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Bulb T-bagsBulb T-bags Rebalances the hormones needed to Rebalances the hormones needed to

prevent negative symptomsprevent negative symptoms

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Are you a Stripper?Are you a Stripper?

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Why mix with cold water?Why mix with cold water? Cold water– flows faster than ambient or Cold water– flows faster than ambient or

warmwarm

The colder the flower (and water) the faster The colder the flower (and water) the faster the metabolism rate is reduced -- you save the metabolism rate is reduced -- you save energy for later energy for later

Cold temperatures inhibit the aging Cold temperatures inhibit the aging processes (eg opening, leaf yellowing etc.) processes (eg opening, leaf yellowing etc.)

Bacteria is not happy in cold water Bacteria is not happy in cold water

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Finessing Processing Finessing Processing

ProceduresProcedures—Reduce shrink—Reduce shrink What affects stem flow?What affects stem flow? Why sharp tools matterWhy sharp tools matter TimingTiming CondensationCondensation Cut pointCut point Function of sugarFunction of sugar

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WaysWays to Save to Save Get the dose right Get the dose right Never consolidate used solutionsNever consolidate used solutions Good air flow in coolerGood air flow in cooler Post info on what solution to use whenPost info on what solution to use when Reuse solutions correctlyReuse solutions correctly Respect treatment timesRespect treatment times Let finishing spray dry before coolerLet finishing spray dry before cooler No smoking in vansNo smoking in vans

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Best Practices ~ SANITATIONBest Practices ~ SANITATION Sanitize tables, tools, trash cans, broomsSanitize tables, tools, trash cans, brooms Develop daily, weekly, monthly cleaning Develop daily, weekly, monthly cleaning

schedulesschedules Chrysal Cleaner = residual effectChrysal Cleaner = residual effect Post protocolsPost protocols Keep trash cans covered. Keep trash cans covered. Empty daily. Sanitize weeklyEmpty daily. Sanitize weekly Paper towels, not ragsPaper towels, not rags Keep hose nozzles up, off floor Keep hose nozzles up, off floor

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If you wouldn’t drink it or drink out of it, If you wouldn’t drink it or drink out of it, neither will your flowersneither will your flowers

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Equipment upkeepEquipment upkeep…always a good idea…always a good idea

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Information is FreeInformation is FreeThe Chrysal ChannelThe Chrysal Channel ~ ~

Business Facebook feedBusiness Facebook feed~~ www.facebook.com/pages/Chrysalwww.facebook.com/pages/Chrysal-Floral-Nutrients/-Floral-Nutrients/You Tube-You Tube- http://http://www.youtube.com/user/ChrysalCareswww.youtube.com/user/ChrysalCaresWebsiteWebsite - -www.chrysalusa.comwww.chrysalusa.com

Other sources of information:Other sources of information: Chrysal newsletter, GoTo Info, Holiday AlertsChrysal newsletter, GoTo Info, Holiday Alerts U BloomsU Blooms Flowers and CentsFlowers and Cents

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Did you know…?Did you know…? Since 1986, the rose shares the podium with the bald Since 1986, the rose shares the podium with the bald

eagle as a US national emblemeagle as a US national emblem Do you see “rose” in the word, Eros?Do you see “rose” in the word, Eros? Lowering the pH of water, dissolves air bubbles Lowering the pH of water, dissolves air bubbles

thereby boosting flow into stemsthereby boosting flow into stems Chrysal Cleaner is biodegradableChrysal Cleaner is biodegradable It takes on average, 6-10 days for a flower to get It takes on average, 6-10 days for a flower to get

from a South American farm to your shop.from a South American farm to your shop. George Washington was a famous US rose breeder. George Washington was a famous US rose breeder.

His variety ‘Martha Washington’ is still widely grown His variety ‘Martha Washington’ is still widely grown Roses in flower food last >50% longer than in H20Roses in flower food last >50% longer than in H20 70% of uptake happens in the first 1-2 hrs a flower is 70% of uptake happens in the first 1-2 hrs a flower is

in solutionin solution

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Start clean –tools, buckets…Start clean –tools, buckets… Measure when mixingMeasure when mixing Plan ahead—quick transfersPlan ahead—quick transfers Don’t combine old solutions with freshDon’t combine old solutions with fresh Remove from cooler amount of boxes you Remove from cooler amount of boxes you

can process in 30 minutescan process in 30 minutes Leave rose wraps in placeLeave rose wraps in place Keep petals dryKeep petals dry Top-up with fresh solution, not H2OTop-up with fresh solution, not H2O NEVER add ICENEVER add ICE

GAME RULESGAME RULES

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4 Free Ways to Reduce Shrink~4 Free Ways to Reduce Shrink~ 1.1. NEVER sell any flower directly from NEVER sell any flower directly from

the boxthe box

2. Let flowers drink for (minimum) 1-4 hours 2. Let flowers drink for (minimum) 1-4 hours before selling or using in design workbefore selling or using in design work

3. Measure when prepping solutions3. Measure when prepping solutions

4. Location, location, location—Keep petals 4. Location, location, location—Keep petals dry dry

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Everything we Everything we do on the front end, do on the front end, maximizes maximizes vase performancevase performance

& & customer satisfaction!customer satisfaction!

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The Goal ~The Goal ~ To outperform your competitionTo outperform your competition

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Thank-you!Thank-you!