The spray carnation is, like the regular carnation, very sensitive to the aging hormone ethylene. When the flower is exposed to it the flowers will shrink. Other types of flowers often experience dropping of buds, flowers and/or leaves. This decreases the life expectancy to a maximum of 1 week after harvest. And since the distribution and sales period for cut flowers is often a week, waste will be very high for the consumer at home.

Types of ethylene

In principal there are two types of ethylene:

When looking at the quality of roses obviously the first thing we look at is the flower. But a nice rose with damaged or dead leaves does not look attractive. Also, damaged leaves can lead to faster wilting of the flower. The leaves are the engine for transporting water and nutrients to the flower. When the engine fails the flower will not be in optimal condition. Potentially leading to the flower not opening fully and a shorter vase life.

Dehydration is a common cause for waste with plants throughout the chain. The issue occurs mostly during transport and in the shop. Also, certain kinds of plants, like spathiphyllum, azalea and hydrangea, are very sensitive to dehydration. If you use the following tips, you will avoid waste by dehydration as much as possible.

Purchase

With a production area of more than 200 ha Phalaenopsis is a very important crop. In general growers try to get as many spikes on a plant as possible to fulfill the needs of their customers. To stimulate the spiking of the Phalaenopsis at the grower a period of cooling is necessary. Light intensity also influences spiking. To make the spiking process more successful and uniform Chrysal introduced a new pre-harvest product especially for Phalaenopsis called Chrysal Viva.

The sunflower or Helianthus is a very popular and common seasonal flower. This wonderful flower is a great addition to any store, both for mono and mixed bouquets and floral arrangements. But how do you get the most out of the sunflower?

In recent years we have seen a huge increase in online flower sales. Not everyone gets the chance to visit a local florist or supermarket to buy a nice bunch of flowers, but to be perfectly honest: having flowers delivered to your doorstep is just very convenient as well. But how can you make sure that your wonderful creations arrive in top condition at your customers? We have the following five tips for you.

Tips for consumers

Herbs have amazing flavours. Using the right herb can lift your dish to a higher level. Of course you can buy dried herbs in the supermarket, but isn’t it even more special when you grow them yourself? And besides giving an extra touch to your dish, herb plants like basil and mint also give an amazing scent in your kitchen.

The downside is that herb plants often need extra care. That is why we want to give you some tips to help you to keep your herb plants fresh, beautiful and well hydrated.

The name hydrangea comes from the Greek "hydor," meaning water, and "angos," meaning jar or vessel. This roughly translates to "water barrel," referring to the hydrangea's need for plenty of water. Because of this the hydrangea needs extra water to prevent wilting during transport and in the shop. A well suited pot size is very important to store enough water in the growing medium/soil. To give you an idea of how much water the hydrangea needs: it uses between 40 and 50 ml of water per day in standard conditions.

Summer is on its way and that's why we have only one thing on our minds: a beautiful garden. Lavender is the perfect addition with its wonderful colours and lovely smell. It also helps wild bees to thrive; a really important feature nowadays. How can we make this very attractive plant popular again?