Horticulture Conditioning and Grooming Tips


Conditioning:

• Proper conditioning and care will extend the enjoyment of fresh flowers and allow you to show them in the flower show at their peak.
• Proper conditioning or hardening of flowers is critical. Proper preparation and careful maintenance maximizes the life of cut flowers grown by you, or purchased at the local flower shop.
• Cut flowers in late evening or early morning. Re-cut stems under water to prevent air bubbles from forming within the stems, cutting at an angle.
• Place the cut flowers into the container/ vase in which they will be conditioned with tepid water (110°F) up to the flower heads.
• Fuzzy foliaged plants such as dusty miller should not have their foliage submerged during conditioning.
• Remove the lower third of the foliage and immerse only to foliage level.
• Place the containers of flowers in a cool, dark, humid location preferably for a minimum of 2 hours.

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Grooming:

• A branch should have growth pattern typical of the plant, shrub or tree.
• Examine your specimen carefully and remove any dead or bug nibbled leaves or leafless side twigs.
• “Nit-pick” – use a magnifying glass if you need, to find and remove any insects, spider webs or debris of any kind. This includes the stem.
• Now place your cleaned plant in a clear glass container of appropriate size in proportion to the size of your specimen.
• Remember, "plant material entered in a Standard Flower Show may not be altered by the application (treatment) of oil, commercial "shine" products, etc. that may artificially change the natural color and texture." (NGC Handbook for Flower Shows, p. 99)

The concept is to show the most "perfect" exhibit compared to its ideal type (in reference to color and form) as well as maturity (not to early, but not past it's prime, e.g. going to seed).






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