For the holiday of love, it is estimated that more than 180 million stems of roses will be bestowed upon sweethearts around the world. While Cupid is busy keeping the love alive, it may take a Flower Doctor to help prolong the life of beautiful blooms. Throughout the month of February, those puzzled by floral preservative or stumped about cutting stems, can receive answers to cut-flower care and handling questions by simply logging onto www.FLOWRMD.com, or calling the 1-888-FLOWRMD hotline, hosted by the Flower Promotion Organization.

In addition to flower care tips and design ideas, those looking for a prescription for flower preservation can get answers directly from the Flower Doctor, Bridget Behe, Ph.D. As an expert in horticulture, she will respond to each of the FLOWRMD.com inquiries via email and together with her team of flower experts also will answer calls at 1-888-FLOWRMD – [1-888-356-9763] – on February 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.

To help prolong the life of beautiful blooms, www.FLOWRMD.com offers the following flower selection and care and handling advice:

Petal Picks– When selecting loose flowers from a florist or flower market, look for flowers with upright, firm petals and buds beginning to open. Yellow, spotted or drooping leaves are signs of age. Here are few other flower selecting tips:

• Nose Knows – Smell the water…it should smell fresh and clean.

• Stem Slime – Additionally, look at the stems, they should be clean and not slimy.

• Don’t Take a Break – Forego any flowers that may have breakage in the stems.

Blooming Beginnings – Extra care of fresh cut flowers can prolong the enjoyment period. Following are some tips to help get fresh cut flower arrangements off to a good start:

• Cool Off – While preparing to put the flowers in a vase, store the blooms in a cool place.

• Keep it Clean – Vases, floral clippers and knives should be clean. How clean the tools and container are can truly affect the presentation and life of the flowers. Wash the tools and selected flower container with a detergent or antibacterial cleaning solution.

• Food for Thought – Commercial flower food solution is a must. Follow the mixing instructions on the flower food packet. Most packets should be mixed with either a pint or a quart of water. Flower foods should not be diluted with more water than is specified.

• Leaf ‘Em Out – If the leaves on the stems will fall below the water line, remove. Leaves in water will promote bacterial microbial growth that may limit water uptake by the flower.

• Under the Knife – Re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife while under running warm water. Place the flowers in the vase solution you've prepared.

• Climate Control – Keep fresh flowers out of direct sunlight and away from drafts (like air vents, heater vents, or fans).

Maintenance Musts – To prolong the life of fresh cut flowers, maintenance is a must. It is important to re-cut stems and change water often. The Flower Doctor offers these other things to consider:

• Do Downsize – The once appropriate sized vase may be too big once the stems are cut. Move to a smaller vase and rearrange.

• Divide and Decorate – Don’t be afraid to separate flowers into different groupings and move them into different rooms of your home as the stems get shorter and the vase gets smaller.

• Maximum Enjoyment – when flowers are coming to the end of their life cycle, cut the stems 1/2" from the blooms and float them in a bowl of water (maybe accompanied by some floating candles, stones, or marbles). Lay blooms and petals on a plate with some candles or in a bed of potpourri to let them dry naturally.

Dr. Bridget Behe

Throughout the year, Dr. Behe hosts a question and answer section on www.FLOWRMD.com called “Ask Bridget” where she has helped remedy thousands of flower-care dilemmas. She draws from her experience as a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University where she teaches horticulture courses. She also is a member of the OFA, an association of floriculture professionals, the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association and is a Michigan Certified Florist.

The Flower Promotion Organization
The Flower Promotion Organization, an alliance of United States and Colombian fresh-cut flower growers, is dedicated to providing consumers with fresh-cut flower education and design inspiration.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Shawn Campbell-Zurawski
Flower Promotion Organization
s.campbellzurawski@comcast.net
815/730-1772