Today you will be learning the process of how to work with flower preservatives. In this article you will discover what flower food is. This will help educate you on your decision down the road on which flower foods you should purchase.
We will also be writing about how to determine which flower foods are suitable for some flowers. Finally, we will discuss where to buy flower foods. There are other alternatives to commercial floral and what are the ingredients in flower food.
What Is Flower Food
We must first discuss the purpose and function of flower foods before you can learn how to work with flower preservatives. This will help younavigate your way to purchasing the one that works for you and will help keep your flowers lasting fresh much longer. Flower foods come in a variety of brands. You can also make your own.
The job of flower food is to help the flowers open and keep them hydrated by lowering the Ph. This helps keep the water and food conducting systems in the flowers working at maximum efficiency. Either commercial or homemade will work. All you need to do is give them a trial before you invest in buying large quantities.
Why Use Flower Food
Let’s talk about where everything starts when we talk about how to work with flower preservatives. Flowers go through a complex process before getting to the last destination. The flowers are harvested at a farm where they get cleaned, hydrated, and processed for shipping.
The next stop will be the distribution center. They again get hydrated to be shipped to the wholesalers and often go to auction, so they have to look their best. Many distribution companies buy flowers through an auction.
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Some flowers are left in their original boxes, and those that need to have a drink of water get treated with flower food. The flowers get shipped to the wholesalers, then they get processed and put in flower buckets with water and flower food to be hydrated after a long journey.
From the wholesaler, they go to the retailers. The flowers must have deep care, handling, and be pampered, so they get to their final destination looking their best. It is crucial that the cleaning and conditioning be done with so much love and dedication so the retailers will process the flowers for the last time. Suppose they will use it for events. They should be able to last a couple more days after the event, looking fantastic in their final destination.
The addition of flower food is necessary to elongate their life a bit. If their final destination is a loving home, the owners may care for them to enjoy them as long as possible. Adding a mini bag of flower food and explaining how to use it is essential. Flower food plays such an indispensable role in the flower’s chain of life.
Related: Our flower arrangement online courses. In both English and Spanish
I want you to know that in the 21rst century, the flowers sometimes don’t have to be hydrated so much because you can buy flowers directly from the farms and their life span is longer.
Making Flower Food
Let’s talk about making your own flower food and what else some people use to extend the life of the flowers. Get a small container or a bottle and mix your ingredients in there. Add sugar, water, and a few drops of bleach. Shake or stir vigorously and let it rest for a few minutes before adding it to the water.
Let’s try another recipe: lemon, water, and aspirin. Depending on the number of flowers, you can decide how many aspirins and lemons to add. Usually, we have five aspirins for a gallon of water and a lemon, so you don’t want to be too acidic.
Related: Read more of my blogs to learn every minuscule intricacy of artistic nuisances there are in designing perfection.
Here are two other recipes we often use: a tablespoon of bleach to a clean bucket half full of water, or a spoon full of sugar added to the water with a few drops of bleach. Mix it and let it rest for a few minutes before you add it to the bucket with water. Sometimes all you need is a clean and disinfected container with clean water.
Let me remind you again how to clean this container. Add antibacterial soap and three spoons of bleach. Wear hand acrylic globes to protect your hands and a face mask to avoid getting dizzy and protect your health.
It can be strong, but it is very effective at killing bacteria and keeping your flowers healthy. This is what we have been doing for almost three decades, and we have received so many compliments on our flowers.
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Flower Food Ingredients And Purchase Quantity
When learning how to work with flower preservatives it is good to learn the ingredients which flower preservatives are composed of. The commercial flower food is nothing but citric acid, sugar, and bleach. Many people like to use a homemade version of this, and others like the one in the little bags or buckets, depending on how busy you are.
If you own a flower shop, buying this product by the box with individual small packages will be good. Include it with the delivery or with the pick up so your clients will have this available to condition their flowers so they can enjoy them for a few more days.
If you are a floral designer, the best choice will be buying it by the bucket, so you save some money. Most of the time, floral designers process large quantities of flowers and need to condition them and let them drink water with food to make them long-lasting.
Related: My book, now on amazon, “Never The Mother Of The Bride” featuring David Tutera.
How To Use Flower Food
Let’s talk about what you do when you receive your flowers since we are talking about how to work with flower preservatives. The first thing you must do is clean your bucket with soap and bleach to help reduce bacteria. This combination may kill at least 99.9% of the bacteria. The bucket is disinfected and ready to have some clean water put in it.
Depending on the flower you are working with, determine the amount of water needed to be added to the bucket. Once you add the water to the bucket, it is time to put the flower food and stir it until it is thoroughly mixed.
What To Do Before Adding The Flowers To The Water Bucket
Let’s learn more about what to do before adding flowers to your bucket since we are talking about how to work with flower preservatives. Now is the time to start cleaning your flowers. Remove as many leaves as necessary to avoid them from getting in the water and getting bacteria, then allow them to absorb more water. After the leaves are removed, and if there are thorns or other unnecessary things that need to be removed, this is the moment to remove them.
Related: My blog complete guide on selecting a bridal bouquet.
Let’s cut at least two inches from the stem with a sharp knife and put the flowers’ stems in clean and disinfected buckets with water and flower food. It is necessary to leave them to be hydrated for at least one day. The longer, the better but be conscious of the fact that you need to check your flowers to see how they are reacting to this conditioner and also to see if the water is clean or need to be changed.
How To Determine Which Flower Food Is Suitable For The Flowers You Are Working With
You will need to determine which flower food best fits your purpose depending on the flower you are using. You can begin by reading the reviews on products you believe would be good candidates for your final decision. If you are new to the floral design industry, then it is a good practice to buy the brand of flower food that has the highest reviews while still satisfying the purpose you want it for, specific to the flower.
Another thing you can do is at least a couple of months before your event, buy a few of those flowers you will be working with and experiment with them. Ask the wholesaler, florist, or wherever you buy your flowers from if they have flower food included with the flowers, and if they do then ask if they have different brands.
Related: My article buyer’s guide for flowers.
If this service is not available, ask them for their recommendation on what to buy. Go ahead and buy at least three brands and try them, don’t forget to follow the instructions given to you in cleaning your flowers and what to do so they will last longer.
Where To Buy Flower Foods
You can purchase flower foods from your nearest supermarket. It is good that you shop around first and choose where to buy based on your due diligence. Let me give you five places where you can purchase flower food besides the supermarket.
- Flower shops
- Flower wholesalers
- Amazon
- Flower accessories and supply stores
- Art and hobby stores
The Best Flower Foods For You To Buy
Suppose you like to buy the most popular floral food but don’t know which one to buy from so many choices available. Depending on your circumstances, the preferred product for your specific situation varies. Here are two examples of the flower food brands that are the most popular. You decide after researching and trying which one works the best for the flowers you will be designing.
- Floralife: this is available in liquid, mini bags, quick deep, and buckets
- Crystal: comes in mini packages, liquid. and buckets
Several other great floral foods are available, but the two listed above are the most popular within the floral industry. As I mentioned before, try several and decide the one you like to work with the most.
Related: My blog how to make your own flower arrangement.
Conclusion
That concludes our discussion on how to work with flower preservatives. Now that you have all this knowledge you need to start shopping for flower foods, you can now shop for the supplies you need for your arrangement with much more ease. Use this information to make the best decision on what product to buy.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is to improve the condition of your flowers. Learn and practice until you become a master in conditioning and caring for your flowers and adding the correct quantity of flower food so the PH of the water is perfect for your flowers, and so they last longer and look amazing. The more you practice, the better you get, and don’t forget that practice makes masters. Don’t stop and always be resourceful to master your craft.
Related: If you are looking for event planning services and rentals, contact me at bisli@bisli.com.
About Me
I am the CEO of an event service firm, Bisli Event Services LLC. I am also a published author of my book “Never The Mother Of The Bride”. With an introduction by the world-famous David Tutera, star of the hit show My Fair Wedding on WE Tv.
I also am the author of multiple floral arrangement decor courses online. I’ve been featured on Platinum Weddings, Top Chef on Bravo, Platinum Weddings on WETV, CNN, CNN Latino, MTV Latino, San Antonio Weddings Magazine, kens5, and The Knot.
I have been a Wedding planner, floral designer, event designer, speaker, and Luxury celebrations coach for almost three decades. I have also done events for celebrities such as Barack Obama.
Thank you for checking out my blog. You will enjoy your event much more filling your time up educating yourself on the various topics surrounding event design. We have even more content for you to enjoy and learn even more tips about event design and decor.
My office is located in San Antonio Texas. If you have questions about booking please contact me at bisli@bisli.com. We offer event planning and decor services.
Best of luck to you in your event decor and planning endeavors. See you on the next blog.
