General information about cut flower assortment
Specifications of flowers: ripeness stages
2 lessons The chain for cut flowers and the influence on quality: – Temperature and humidity
Botrytis and bacteria
Transport conditions and packaging
Quality checks after products arrives in Flowex
How to put flowers on water:
– care and handling / effects of flower food
How to store products in Flowex / effects of flower food
Assortment: explanation about several important cut flowers: – Rosa, Hydrangea, etc
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Active in Holland and abroad (29 countries)
In 4 countries Database InfoFlowersPlants Account on Webapp
InfoFlowersPlants with possibilities to search and find the assortment in the various product groups Including interesting facts such as origin, care, symbolism, location, etc.
You will receive an email with 3 steps to create your own password for this platform
Social Media Lucas Lets start to learn The chain of flowers: Breeder
Producers / growers:
worldwide assortment
Transporter by plane or road or ship
Flowers arrive at Flowex
Customers: exporters / importers
Supermarkets + flower shops
Happy customers
Most important import countries Harvesting Sunflowers Trend is more spray roses https://issuu.c om/united-sel ections/docs/s prays_brochur e_2025_us
Productie depends on country and region Holland: sea level
Kenia: 1500 – 2000 meter high Ecuador: 2000 – 3000 meter high
The production and variety has influence on:
Size of buds
Growth rate / tempo
Holland production: Rosa Jumilia Rose production Kenia Rozen (EC en Col)
Gypsophyla (EC)
3) Anjers (Col)
4) Alstroemeria (EC en Col)
Hypericum (EC en ET)
Trosrozen (Kenia en Ec)
Hortensia (Col)
Availability cut flowers Rosa (spray and single roses differen head sizes
Year around
Tulipa
Chrysanthemum (spray, disbud, santini)
Year around high season nov – april
Year around
Lilium
Year around
Paeonia Year around High season mei - juni
Alstroemeria
Year around
Classification cut flowers Main crops Of these 3 bunch and disbudded versions for:
• Rosa
• Chrysanthemum
• Dianthus
Gerbera
• Always 1 flower on 1 stem
Alstroemeria
• Always several flowers on 1 stem
Flowex training 2025
Bulb flowers Spring flowering bulbs:
• Tulipa
• Hyacinthus
• Narcissus
• Hippeastrum
• Muscari
Summer-flowering bulbous plants:
• Dahlia
• Iris
• Gladiolus
• Lilium
• Ornithogalum
• Freesia
• Ranunculus
Types of Lilium Lilium Exotic flowers: Pretty much only imports Exotic flowers annual share from greenhouse NL Exotic flowers partly Dutch and partly import Exotic flowers mostly from the Netherlands, sometimes imports Forest schrubs: Forced Cut Flowers Summer flowers from annuals Impression Flower production Summer flowers from annuals Summer flowers from perennials Summer flowers from perennials Decorative foliage Influences quality in the chain Specifications plants flowers Pot size
Sorted by:
Height, diameter, number of branches / cutting per pot,
Number of flowers / buds, shape, lenght of tendrils etc.
Uniformity
Maturity / ripeness stage
Well hardened
Well rooted
Pot enough moistured
Free of pests and diseases
Length
Sorted by:
Weight, diameter, size
Number of flowers / buds
Uniformity
Maturity / ripeness stage
Free of pests and diseases
By Lilium Purchase Criteria Grower's name
Number of buds/stem
Cultivation method
Pretreatment
Examples claim registration stages Relationship too immature and don't open Flower is present in the smallest bud Bud unfolding for flowering needed: water sucking cells come on voltage 7 x original bud weight energy needed drawn from the sugars in the petals
Shortage of sugars: reserve source appeal to starch granules in the petals undetectable laboratory
Relationship too immature and don't open With insufficient starch no efflorescence
Roses cut too young, too little starch
Too little starch after water after ripened roses
Store too long at too high temperature Flowers have to breathe and consume too little starch in sugars and starches
Ripeness stage of roses Ripeness How more raw how longer the vase life?
NO:
– mostly it’s better to buy the stadium of a flower which give the possibility to flowering totally open
BUT: – Each flower has own ripeness stadium – This depends on:
Genus
Time of the year Knowledge and information:
Ripeness stage: purchase stage and consumer perceptions Lily ripeness: Asian + Longiflorum Lily ripeness: Oriental Ripeness of the flower: Lilium Ripeness of the flower: Anthurium Ripeness of the flower: Cymbidium Gerbera ripeness stadium: the rings in the flower To Ripe 2-3 rings is ok Quality Check after delivering Flowex Use checklists Flowex Why cooling? Less ethylene production
Less grown of bacteria Less evaporation Slower come open of the flower Less wound healing
Temperature of products – With cooling we reduce the insensitivity of breathing of the flower
• A temperature which is 10 degrees lower, the flower will breath 2 – 3 times lower
Storage of flowers Fresh nesh of products in very important
FIFO = first in – first out Reduce failure Trolley with rest products cost much money
How more rest products – how more waste
Indication: 3000-4000 euro a week = waste
Optimal cold store temperatures Very important: cool chain Pallets with flowers Quality of flowers which arrives depending on How cold the flowers goes into the box
How is the cool chain
Way of stacking / pelletizing
Will temperature increase or decrease?
Flowers produce heat by themselves
How long the product / box will be on the road
What material to put in the box to prevent heat / cold
What happens in a box when temperature increase? Products will get more ripe
Some products will curve stems
– Specially some typical products
More evaporation = – loss of moisture – = loss of quality
More condensation = – higher change on Botrytis
Ethylene influence = – products get quick older
Ventilation is important to get cold air around flowers Heating flowers will result in waste Curved stems due to too warm transport Condensation in boxes gives Botrytis Conclusion: Cool chain very important
A cool start most important
During flight or in truck
After arriving in Flowex
– Directly in cold store after treatment – Measure temperature en humidity
Advice: keep flowers cool and dry
What to do after the products arrives at Flowex? Controle boxes Checklist workflows What to do when products arrives and checked ? 1. Threat the flowers – Cleaning and cutting
2. Directly on water – Flower food = Chrysal prof 2
3. Directly cold store: – optimal temperatures
Average 4-5 degrees if there is only 1 space
Separates spaces: one space 1-2 degrees and one space 4-6 degrees
Cold store temperatures + water level + vase live Exotic flowers in tropical cooler Anthurium Cymbidium Phalaenopsis + Vanda
Storage of flowers Freshnesh of products in very important
FIFO = first in – first out
Reduce failure / waste
Old flowers / bad quality gives a negative name in the market of Flowex
Cold-sensitive products Name of flowers
Anthurium
Damage with to low temperature. Remark
Glasachtige vlekken, bruinverkleuring, bloemknik
Heliconia
Orchideeën (Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Dendrobium)
Bruine verkleuring schutbladen
Euphorbia (E. fulgens, E. milii)
Blad- en bloemverkleuring, “cold spots”
Altijd boven 12 °C houden
Ginger (Alpinia, Zingiber)
Curcuma
Tropical foliage (Monstera, Cordyline, Aralia, Areca, Asplenium)
Bladval, steelverkleuring
Tropisch, absoluut niet koelen
Vooral Phalaenopsis zeer gevoelig
Ook gevoelig voor ethyleen
Verkleuring, verlies van glans Tropisch
Bladschade, bruine bractea’s Tropisch
Bladverkleuring, necrose
Vooral bij lange ritten riskant
Sensitive flowers Flowex training 2025
Flowers are packed in different sizes of boxes It depends in the type of product which box is used for which product.
Depends on: – Sensitivity – Heavy or light flowers – Fragile flowers
Cold sensitivity of flowers
Fixed amounts of flowers in a box is the best – By example: Astilbe always with 200 stems / box
Flowers are sometimes: light, heavy, fragile Rosa Flowex training 2025
Heavy Light Fragile
Iris Eustoma = Lisianthus Helianthus
Hyacinthus Bouvardia Ornithogalum
Tulipa Astilbe Eremurus
Lilium Lathyrus
Lilium Longiflorum
Statice = Limonium Alstroemeria Allium
Solidago Delphinium Leucospermum
Groen Calla = Zantedeschia Celosia
Gladiolus Viburnum
Protea Hortensia = Hydrangea
Transportschade Breakage sensitive products Following products are sensitive:
– Agapanthus
– Germini
– Zantedeschia / Calla
– Antirrhinum
– Hydrangea syn. Hortensia
– Dahlia
– Allium
– Leucospermum
– Celosia
– Ornithogalum (specially O. saundersiae and arabicum)
Cold sensitieve flowers Not in cold store! The following products are cold sensitive:
– Anthurium flowers + leafs
– Euphorbia
– Curcuma
– Heliconia
– Some leaf species:
Monstera
Philodendron
– Some Orchids a.o.
Vanda
Phalaenopsis
Paphiopedilum
They get extra attention during packaging with special aluminium bags
Chrysal flower food Cut flower food chain Pre-treatment Prof. T-Bags of Professional 2 +60% longer vase life Professional 2 Sachets / fluid
Grower Flowex Transport Consumer Pre-treatment of cut flowers Influence on quality: After cut treatment Directly done after the crop of the flowers
Method it’s done on the nursery / farms
For some products it’s in the rules of the auctions
For some products it’s free to do it
Goal of after cut treatment:
Keep the best quality during the chain
The best result for consumers
Products are less sensitive for ………..
6 Different methods of after cut treatment 1. To reduce the sensitivity of ethylene
2. To give enough sugars / nutrients
3. Wilt after a dry period
4. Against yellow leaves
5. Against wound healing
6. Grown of bacteria in the water
Damage by Ethylene Dianthus
Influence pre-treatment Flowex training 2025
Time laps video of pre-treated cut flowers Dianthus (= carnation) Delphinium Lilium LA Grp
Lilium Oriental Grp
You can watch this video
Handling & treatment of cut flowers Handling flowers after arriving Take the products out of the box as soon as possible after delivery (because of Botrytis)
Prepare buckets with COLD water Use clean buckets with flower food
What’s in the buckets?:
• Clean water and flower food (Chrysal Prof 2)
Check:
• The water level in the buckets
• Some flowers drink a much water
Chrysal flower food Flowex Use always the right concentration flowerfood • Overdosing can harm the flowers,
• While underdosing makes the products less effective.
For in Flowex: use a dosing unit The Chrysal Dosing Pump ensures proper dosing of flower care products.
Overdosing can harm flowers, while underdosing makes the products less effective.
Clean buckets Why clean buckets? Flowers are sensitive for bacteria – Especially Gerbera, Rosa and “summer flowers”
The stem of flowers will be closed by the bacteria and water can’t go to the flower
The flowers starts to hang after several days
The vase live is dramatic decreased
Consumers are not satisfied with their flowers
Use clean tools To clean / disinfect regularly with Chrysal
Professional Cleaner:
Knifes
Scissors
Tables
Clean machines
Use the right hardness of brooms
Stems of flowers Water direction in stem
Cutting edge
Bacteria in stem Bacteria The stems must be clean with the parts which is coming into the water. Take away the thorns? It makes wounds on the stem.
Wounds give sugars out of the stem
Sugars coming into the water
Water with sugars lets grow bacteria explosive
Result: vase life of the roses is less
Effects bacteria on Rosa Allen water of water met chrysal
Effects bacteria on Eustoma What helps against Bacteria? Use always:
– Clean vases, buckets or containers Desinfect with Chrysal Cleaner
– Clean & cold water
– Clean stems of the flowers Take away the leaves
Rosa: Take away thorns, only when this is necessary Not damage the stems
Flowex training 2025
Never use stripper, it damege the stems
What helps against Bacteria? Step by step: – Put into the water anti-bacterial:
Chrysal professional 2
Chlorine pill – Cut all the stems of flowers with a sharp and clean knife of scissor 3-5 cm – Put them directly into the water (not wait)
Consumers Always give flower food
Use the right concentration flowerfood
Always give advise how to use flowers at home of on locations
– Use Flower food
– Never in full Sun
– Never under airconditioner
Some backgrounds: Botrytis Botrytis Botrytis grows specially when: Condensation in (unperforated)
cellophane
When temperature is higher is goes more quick
When product is spryed awith water
Warmth in packaging
When humidity is to high
When the product is moistly packaged
Temperature changes in the chain
When during handling products get wet / moisture:
• Wet / moisture tables etc
Before flowers go into a box Blow dry with an air pistol
Sensitive flowers wrapped in paper
How to recognize Botrytis? Botrytis is a fungi:
– The spores are in the air,
specially in spaces which are not clean
– The spores start only to grow when there is an optimum in temperature and humidity
RV higher then 70 - 80 % is risky
– You can find it on:
flowers and plants and on each part of a product
– Flower, stems, leaves
– How more soft a product is how higher is the risk
Prevent Botrytis is important Give enough ventilation Give
Take flowers out of the boxes after they arrived Take
Prevent
Prevent changing of temperatures
• Condensation makes a high humidity in cellophanes
Never spray flowers with water Spray
Never give water over the head of the flowers Never
Perforated folie + sleeves Botrytis Rosa Botrytis in Rosa Botrytis after 5-7 days The grey mold is very infective Botrytis Gerbera Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Botrytis video Chrysal Rose Dip Service Back ground info Rose Dip Anti Botrytis Extra PPT Chrysal Rose Dip Anti Botrytis Sea Freight Chrysal part.pptx
Info over see Freight chain
Info over Rose Dip
Test Botrytis: measuring of spore pressure in air Step 1 / Day 1:
Write on the trays:
Location where these are placed, date and place
– Place the slides for 24-36 hours / open the dishes and put them down:
– Refrigerator
– Workshop, flower shop, barn
– Loudspeaker
– Sales space, presentation space / cash & carry
– Truck / truck / car
– Nursery or greenhouse etc
Step 2 / Day 2:
Close the bowls and write on them the date of closing
– Place the dishes at room temperature for 2-3 days
Stap 3 / Dag 4-6:
Read the results of the Botrytis spores pressure in the air:
– Compare the results with the reference photos
Botrytis test: 2 dagen open om sporen op te vangen uit de lucht
Reference images of Botrytis spore pressure Grow spots or Botrytis? Such spots can be caused by a cold night during cultivation.
Such discussions are always difficult and it's hard to judge from a photo.
Botrytis has to be seen 'live' to be judged properly.
In such cases it is best to put the flowers in a vase with a plastic bag around the affected bud.
This will give an RV of 100% and if it is botrytis, the little dots will develop into real fungi.
Damage at the distribution of flower auction RFH Hydrangea Extra attention: Hydrangea The hardiness Of hydrangea changes during the seas On
First half year: usually mild
Sec O nd half year: increasingly harder
Often recOgnizable by the name “Classic”
By feeling yOu can estimate whether the flOwer is sOft Or hard
Chrysanthemum Lisianthus Use determination tool Gebruik determinatietool Determination key Handy Excel sheet https://www.koppert.com/plant-pests
https://www.youtube.com/@Koppert_Global
6 most common animal infestations 6 most common animal infestations Recognize quality items Rosa Video Quality items Flowex Botrytis Temperature and quality Temperature and quality Ripeness Temperature and quality curved stems during warm transport Temperature and quality Grown flowers: high temp in box Thorn damaging Tip damaging Damaging by transport Residu Curved stems Not correct Flowex Some examples of quality problems Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
Flowex training 2025
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