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Conditioning

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• Level 2

LEARNING THE BASICS - CONDITIONING FLOWERS

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Conditioning refers to the preparation of plant material to help it retain its freshest possible state for the longest period of time.  You will be able to enjoy your arrangements longer if you condition the plant material properly. Over the years, arrangers have found tricks for conditioning individual types of plants and flowers.  Feel free to contribute your tricks and tips for conditioning individual types of plants and flowers.  Send your to me by email. LEVEL 3   INDIVIDUAL FLOWERS - TYPES AND TIPS

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Caladium	Soak entire leaf in clean water for several hours before arranging, then treat bottom 2" of stem to a 30 second boiling water bath. Keep leaf top from steam. Stand stem in room-temperature water until used. Caladiums are sensitive to cool temps, do not refrigerate.
Calendula Pot marigold	Stand in deep water for several hours. Cut when about 2/3 mature.
Callistemon Bottlebrush	Cut stem ends vertically about 1/2" and stand in warm water for several hours.
Calluna Scotch Heather	Split the stems to display fresh, or dry the blooms by placing in a little water and letting water evaporate.
Camassia Wild Hyacinth	Do not hold up well after cutting.
Camellia	Split woody stem ends and stand in deep water. Support heavy blooms with loops of wire where they attach to stem, use waterproof tape to attach straight piece of wire to stem. Individual flowers can be floated in a shallow dish to good effect.
Campanula Bellflowers	Cut stems as long as possible. singe or boil ends, then place in deep, warm water.
Capsicum Peppers	Clean fruit carefully and polish with vegetable oil. For small, decorative peppers on the stem, crush small woody stem ends and place in warm water.
Carnation Dianthus	Cut when blooms are not fully open. Stand in cool, deep water overnight.
Castanea Chestnut	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and in deep water for several hours. Foliage may be pressed in fall after the green color has left the foliage before it dries. Press between two pieces of plywood and newspaper with weight on top.
Catananche Cupid's Dart	Stand in deep water. Dries well.
Campanula Bellflowers	Cut stems as long as possible and place in deep, warm water.
Ceanothus	Cut stem ends vertically about 1/2" and place in deep, warm water.
Celosia Cockscomb	Cut when almost fully open. Treat stem ends in boiling water, protecting flower heads, and then place in cool water for several hours.
Centaurea Batchelor Buttons	Cut when freshly but fully open.  Stand in deep water for several hours.
Centranthus	Stand in deep water for several hours
Cercis canadensis Redbud	Cut when blooms begin to open. Crush stem ends and place in hot water. Leave stems in water to cool. Mist blooms as necessary.
Chaenomeles Quince	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and place in warm water for several hours.
Chamaerops Fan Palm	Clean well by sinking in tub of water and then stand upright in shallow water.
Chionodoxa Glory of the Snow	Cut stems as long as possible and place in deep, warm water.
Choisya Mexican orange	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and then place in deep water for several hours
Chrysanthemum	Cut stem ends vertically about 1/2" and place in cool water. Carefully remove all foliage below water line.
Cimicifuga Black Cohosh	Treat stem ends in boiling water, protecting flower heads, and then place in cool water for several hours.
Clarkia Godetia	Treat stem ends in boiling water, protecting flower heads, and then place in cool water for several hours.
Clematis	Seed heads are valuable additions to dried and fresh arrangements. To use flowering vine, be sure to cut into hard wood as green wood will wilt. Dip stem end in boiling water, protecting flower heads, and then place in cool, deep water in a dark area. Do not wet blossoms.
Always use very sharp and immaculately clean pruners and knives to avoid spreading bacteria and crushing stems.  Take a look at the Precision Pruners, with surgical steel blades, slightly curved to get close to the stem for trimming unwanted foliage.  Light and easy to use.
Clivia	Stand in deep water and keep well hydrated in arrangement. A bamboo skewer can be used inside the stem to strengthen.
Coneflower Echinacea	Dip stem ends in boiling water for 30 seconds, protecting flowerheads from steam. Then plunge stems into cool water up to their necks for several hours or overnight. Pluck damaged petals to use dark seed center alone in arrangement
Conifers	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and place in warm water. Remove foliage below water line.
Consolida Larkspur	Cut when bottom third of flowers are open.  Singe stem ends and place in warm water. Remove any foliage on lower stem.
Convallaria Lily-of-the-Valley	Cut stems as long as possible when buds are showing color and place in deep, warm water.
Coreopsis	Flowers should be fully open when cut. Stand in room temperature water for several hours, then recut stems.
Cornus Dogwood	Make vertical cuts in stem end with sharp shears. Dip ends in boiling water and then stand in deep, fresh water for several hours.
Corydalis	Cut stems as long as possible and place in warm water.
Corylus Hazel	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and place in deep, warm water.
Cosmos	Cut before pollen develops. Stand in warm water for several hours. Wrap newspaper lightly around bunched stems below heads to keep stems upright while conditioning.
Continus Smoketree	Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and then stand in deep water for several hours.
Crocosmia Lily-of-the-Valley	Cut stems as long as possible and place in deep, warm water. Seed heads can be dried and last a long time for dried arrangements.
Cynara Globe artichoke	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Cyperus Umbrella palm, papyrus	Cut stems as long as possible and place in deep, warm water. Foliage head can be trimmed for use in arrangements. A bamboo skewer can be inserted in stem to strengthen for long display.
Cytisus Broom	Make vertical cuts in stem end with sharp shears. Dip ends in boiling water and then stand in deep, cool water for several hours.

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