Buying Tips: Avoid: Stems with florets that are brown or shriveled. Purchase: spikes that have a few open florets.

Processing: Rinse stems of any dirt or debris. Remove foliage below water level. Recut stems, preferably under clean water.

Pretreatment: If gladiolus have not been treated with an anti-ethylene product, treat them with a commercial anti-ethylene product as soon as possible. If the flowers have been properly treated with an anti-ethylene product, use one of Floralife’s hydration solutions to promote water uptake and hydration. This treatment will help increase bud opening, decrease flower wilting and helps keep flower stems free flowing.

Holding Solution: Hold flowers at room temperature for 1 - 2 hours (2 - 4 hours if flowers are limp or exhibiting bent neck) prior to storage in cooler or designing. As a finishing touch to any floral design, spray Finishing Touch hydration and protection spray over entire project.

Storage: Place gerbera in a 34 - 38˚ F cooler with 80 - 90% humidity. There is research that suggests that some varieties may be chill sensitive.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Flower fading and / or translucent

Could be exposure to ethylene and /or high temperatures. Make sure that a proper anti-ethylene treatment is performed.

Failure of remaining florets to open

Possibly stored too long; exposed to extreme temperature or low humidity; kept out of solution for extended periods; or harvested too early. Check on harvest date and shipping / storage conditions. Make sure to recut stems under water and use one of Floralife's Fresh Flower Foods to encourage maximum uptake.

Petal burning

Gladiolus are fluoride sensitive. Water may have high concentration of fluoride. Flower food might minimize the effect.