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Conditioning

• Level 1
• Level 2

LEARNING THE BASICS - CONDITIONING FLOWERS

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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Narcissus Daffodill, jonquil	Cut bloom stem only, leaving foliage to ripen. Daffodils exude latex which will clog the stems of other flowers.  Singe stem ends in flame and then condition separately in warm water.  If you must recut the stem, sear it once again.
Nepeta Catnip	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Nicotiana Tobacco plant	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Nigella Love-in-a-mist	Stand in deep water for several hours.  Cut seed heads to save for dried arrangements.
Oleander Nerium oleander	Cut before all blooms have opened. Remove foliage that would be under water. Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and sear with a flame before placing in warm water overnight.
Orchid, corsage type Cattleya	Mist bloom and place in air tight container under refrigeration.
Ornithogalum Star of Bethlehem	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Osmunda fern	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Paeonia Peony	Cut when newly but fully open. Split stem ends. Stand in deep, cool water for overnight.
Papaver Poppy	Cut just before it opens. Dip stem ends in boiling water or sear in an open flame. Hold in cold water.
Pelargonium Geranium	Remove any foliage that will be under water and stand in tepid water for several hours.
Phlox	Cut when newly opened. Crush stem ends and hold overnight in warm water.
Phormium New Zealand Flax	Cut stem end on an angle to expose to more water surface. Stand in tepid water for several hours.
Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima	The latex type sap from a poinsettia must be controlled and can be irritating to the skin. Cut and sear stem ends in a flame or boiling water. Hold in cool water. Another option for holiday arrangements is to buy very small plants and nestle them in the interior of your design, covering the pot and surface soil with moss or sisal.
Protea	Split stem ends. Dip stem ends in boiling water, protecting flower head from steam with a wrap of newspaper.  Hold in warm water.
Prunus various fruit	Cut when only a few blossoms are open. Split stem end. Hold in warm, deep water.
Queen Anne's Lace Daucas carota	Stand in deep, cool water for several hours.
Redbud Cercis canadensis	Cut when blooms begin to open. Crush stem ends and place in hot water. Leave stems in water to cool. Mist blooms as necessary.
Rhododendron	Cut before all blooms in flower truss are open. Crush stem ends and hold in warm water. Mist blooms.
Rosa Rose	Cut when bloom is beginning to open. Split woody stems and hold in warm water. Recut stems of purchased roses, crush stem end and place in warm water. Reputed to dislike floral foam. Many designers use water tubes to position roses within their designs.
There are lots of different ideas about conditioning flowers.  Find out what works for you.  Keep a spiral notebook with snapshots of your designs and notes on which flowers held up well and how you prepared them. Also note what materials were disappointing, then try a different conditioning method or avoid them in the future.
Sage Salvia	Cut late in the day and hold in warm water overnight.
Salix Pussy Willow	Remove bottom inch of bark and cut stem ends vertically about 1". Retard further development by placing in cool water.  Warm water for further development.
Scilla Squill	Cut before all florets have opened and hold in warm water with preservative.
Snapdragons Antirrhinum	Buy or cut in bud, showing color, and stand in warm water. Cool temps will retard opening, warm temps will encourage opening.
Strelitzia Bird-of-Paradise	Cut stem end on an angle and stand in warm water for several hours.  A good tropical bloom for underwater designs.
Syringa Lilac	Cut when fewer than half of the florets have opened.  Remove all foliage. Cut stem ends vertically about 1" and place in deep, warm water.
Tagetes Marigold	Cut newly opened blooms, with stems as long as possible and remove all foliage.  The characteristic scent of the marigolds will decline after cutting.
Tulipa Tulip	Cut when buds are beginning to open. Keep stems straight by wrapping tightly, or inserting stems in straws. One tablespoon of gin per quart of water is reputed to help sustain these blooms.  Stems will continue to grow, contributing to the nodding common to tulip heads. Refresh them after a few days, by recutting stems, wrapping them in newspaper and resting them in warm water for a few hours.
Uvularia Merry Bells	Cut when newly opened and recut stem on a slant underwater before placing in warm water. Carefully remove any foliage that would be underwater.
Verbena	Cut when partially open. Split stems and dip in boiling water, protecting the heads with a collar of newspaper. Hold in warm, sugar water overnight.
Viburnum	Cut stem ends vertically about 1",  then place ends in boiling water briefly. Remove to deep, warm water overnight.
Vitex	Remove foliage and crush stem ends.  Stand in warm, deep water.  Dries well.
Yarrow Achillea	Pick when at no fewer than half of flowers are open. Crush the stem end and place stems in deep water. Better used dried.
Yucca	Split stem ends, cut on a slant. Dip ends in boiling water, then hold in cool water until used.
Zantedeschia Calla	Stand in deep water for several hours.
Zinnia	Cut only freshly opened blooms. Sear stem ends with a flame and hold in warm water.

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