The Basics of Fresh Flower Care & Handling

The key to beautiful long lasting flowers is proper care and handling. Most flowers are shipped long distances, out of water and packed in boxes. They may be held in boxes and refrigerated for several days before you receive them. In this video clip Leanne demonstrates how to processes and rehydrate the most common types of flowers. Enjoy!

[@themerchandiser]

I love her voice so much and absolutely her knowledge of flower care handling. They are so awesome!

[@FlowerSchool]

What a beautiful and kind compliment, Windy! Thank you for very much for those lovely words of praise. We are so pleased that you enjoy our show, and we hope that you will join us again very soon. In the meantime, please do have fun with flowers and let us know how it all goes for you!

[@annayan4302]

@@FlowerSchool a true@

[@LadyEliza7]

I had only heard of ‘cutting under water’technique’. So glad you shared these hydrating techniques. I will definitely give them a try. Thank you!

[@FlowerSchool]

Hello LadyEliza7! This is one of our earlier videos and cutting under water isn't a common floral design practice anymore although it was at the time Leanne created this video. It's just an example of how best practices can change over time. If you are looking for more information about care and handling of flowers and foliage, we have two playlists that will help with that: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyJ_9ifJEvd-jBqhmUm97PVz and kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyIyf5OqRoK41vvGG0lJMcZ3 We hope these playlists will help you keep your flowers and foliage healthy and beautiful for your designs. Thanks so much for visiting us to learn more and we hope to see you again soon. Wishing you the very best and hope that all is well in your world of flowers!

[@janelled6792]

Hi Leanne you are a gem.....a little knowledge does really go a long way..thank you so much

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you very much for your kind words of praise, Janelle! We agree that a little knowledge goes a long way. So happy these videos are proving helpful to you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon for more fun with flowers!

[@swtpaige1004]

Thank you so much for these very helpful tips for caring fresh flowers!

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@waisx4002]

Thank you very much for such a beneficiary teaching video 😊 I loved how not a second of this video was wasted. Truly an inspiring educator 💐

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you so much........

[@fayebrazile6296]

excellent instructions! such a calm, clear delivery.

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank You

[@judyleegardner7007]

Thank you for sharing...do you ever use queen Ann’s lace.?

[@Rochellecastro1]

You are a great instructor! Thank you.

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you for the kind compliment, Rochelle! We are so glad you could join us for fresh flower care and handling, and we hope to see you again soon for more fabulous floral design with Leanne.

[@iceblue1457]

I love the way you are so serene and confident when you are handling those different flowers. I am now realizing I must have scared the flowers given to me. But now I know how to handle them. Thank you.

[@FlowerSchool]

You're Welcome.......

[@shelbybroschay5983]

I love watching her videos. I am so excited to begin the online classes!😋💐

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you very much for your kind compliment, Shelby, and for watching our shows! We are delighted to have you as a new student in our on-line classes, and you will love the lessons and support you receive from Leanne and our teachers. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to reach out to us by phone at 503-223-8089 or e-mail to [e-mail]. We are here to help in any way possible, and we'll be glad to answer any questions you might have. P.S. You might enjoy our resource library as well, and here is the link to it: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/resources.html. Also there is a special Facebook group that our students and graduates can join: facebook.com/groups/2251535841760425/ Wishing you all the best, and please have a beautiful weekend!

[@trudyvanwijk9162]

Thanks for all the tips of true flower arranging Appreciate yiur vudeos !

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you for watching Trudy!

[@2miletrente]

you re a good teacher .. thanks a lot 🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹

[@FlowerSchool]

You are most welcome, 2miletrente! We are delighted to share all kinds of floral design with you and are so happy to hear that you are enjoying it all. Thanks so much for being here with us today and we look forward to hosting you again soon. Best wishes and have a marvelous week!

[@itsmeshangel8149]

thank you so much for all of the informations :) I learn a lot :) thank you for the generosity to share your knowledge :) God bless you more :)

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank You.........

[@Speakupok]

She is so gentle with the flowers..

[@FlowerSchool]

She is indeed, Maria! Leanne has such a way with flowers and we love seeing what she creates with them. We are so pleased that you joined us today and we hope that you will spend time with us again soon. Thank you very much for watching our show!

[@lucybower2142]

Thank you for all the information ..

[@FlowerSchool]

You are welcome. I'm glad that you enjoy our videos....

[@dawchoden7031]

Thank you for sharing , it is very useful.☺☺☺

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank You.....

[@sherryhudson930]

This is sooo helpful. Thank you!

[@FlowerSchool]

Delighted this helpful to you!!!

[@user-ux9ek9pg8m]

I love your tips

[@FlowerSchool]

That's such lovely news, Josephine! We love sharing tips with you and are so pleased that you enjoy them. Have you seen our Tulip Tuesday Tips playlist? It's filled with so many quick and useful tips that you can put to work right away or as needed: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyIu416FxxucQV9lMrcr7Sqb Thank you for learning more about the care and handling of fresh flowers. If you happen to be searching for anything in particular, please let us know and we'll do our best to help you find it. Please take care and have a joyous week with flowers!

[@hollyberry139]

Thank you for sharing.🌺

[@FlowerSchool]

You are so welcome, Holly! We are very happy that you could join us for the basics of fresh flower care and handling, and we hope you will join us again very soon when you have the time. Please have a lovely week and best wishes to you!

[@jasminpari5877]

Thank you so much for these amazing tips! You are a great instructor.. I have problems with caring of orchids and hydrangeas! Are there some special tips for them?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's a perfect question, Jasmin, and an important one too! Orchids and hydrangeas are thirsty flowers and need to hydrate well in fresh water and flower food. It is best if they can sit quietly overnight so they can drink as much water as needed. In addition, hydrangeas benefit from two things: dunking their stems in Quick Dip, and then dipping them in alum, which is a pickling spice. Alum helps hydrangeas drink, drink, drink water and this aids them in staying fresh and lovely. Both Quick Dip and alum are available on our website if you are interested: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_17 Thank you so much for watching our show, and we hope you will join us again soon for more floral tips, techniques, care and handling. P.S. Orchids can be fully submerged in water for a few minutes as they also drink through their faces as well as their stems. Don't leave them there too long though. Have a truly lovely week with flowers!

[@TheTikky10]

wowwwwwwww Unbelievable. It seems you have magical can revive them. Thanks for the technique. It is very useful.

[@FlowerSchool]

So happy to hear that you found this technique useful! If you care for your flowers and hydrate them with fresh water and flower food, they will be beautiful for you and your designs. Thank you for watching our show and we do hope to see you again very soon!

[@jenanh17]

You’re the best florist in the world 🌎 ❤️😍

[@FlowerSchool]

Such a grand complement, thank you!

[@lizziebee315]

Hi Leanne. This is absolutely the best video on conditioning flowers and foliage I have seen! Thank you so much. I am tasked (really it's a privilege 😃) with providing flowers for my daughter's wedding in early July so your video library is invaluable. Please could you possibly make a video on how to transport arrangements. I have quite a distance between my home and the church, both in the English countryside and I am considering how to get them there. Many thanks.

[@FlowerSchool]

I'm delighted that you enjoyed this..... Thank You.

[@agustasister5624]

Lizzie Bee saw a video where she suggested getting laundry baskets and putting them together at the event if the are long- large or.fragile like gladiolus...otherwise put in plastic box with less water....

[@thaocao8370]

thank you very much ... !!!

[@FlowerSchool]

So glad you enjoyed this!

[@firefly9550]

You are a great instructor! Can you cut the flowers under water with clippers rather than a knife?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an interesting question, Anita! You can use clippers, but keep in mind that they might rust over time. Designers have shifted their approach and are cutting flowers under water less now. The nice thing about using a knife is you get a clean cut and don't compress the stem like you do with clippers. Thank you very much for watching our show, and we look forward to seeing you again soon for more fabulous floral design!

[@marifesowinski6960]

Thank you for tutorial. I really enjoy watching you. I am making a wedding bouquet for my daughter andI was wondering how they are gonna last their freshness ?

[@FlowerSchool]

That is an excellent question, Marife! It is also a very broad one and there are several ways to insure that your bouquet is fresh and beautiful. It all starts with how you process your flowers when you receive them. Giving them a fresh cut on an angle and placing them in clean water and flower food is a good way to get started. Giving the flowers plenty of time to hydrate and drink will also help them be fresh for the special day. Quick Dip and Crowning Glory are products that can help your flowers be fresh and beautiful as well. Dipping your flowers in Quick Dip will help them drink more water, and spraying them with Crowning Glory will help them hold in their moisture. If you are looking for inspiration for your bouquets, we have a couple of playlist that might help. One is for wedding bouquets and you can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyKWqasrnMh9HPsmWZ0cSYxy The other is for hand-tied bouquets and you can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyK0zBAt6spDmGpcrWDMhoVh Also we have the flower care products mentioned above on our website here: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_17 Thank you for spending time with us today. Good luck with creating your bouquet, and we hope your daughter's wedding is a huge success and a lovely celebration on her special day!

[@francesdraper9675]

Thank you for this lovely video. Please tell me what she dipped the stems in. 💐

[@FlowerSchool]

You are most welcome, Frances & Draper! Thank you for taking some time to watch our show on care and handling of flowers and foliage. One thing that has changed is that we no longer cut under water. Flowers and foliage can be cut and then placed in a bucket with fresh water and flower food. One thing that Leanne used in this show is Quick Dip which is a rapid hydrator that helps flowers drink more water to be fresh and beautiful. You can find more information about it on our website: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/products/quick-dip-individual-pack-one-pint Even though we don't have any in stock at the moment, we are getting new supplies all the time so please check back to see if it has come in to our shop. We also have a playlist about the care and handling of flowers that might interest you as well: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyJ_9ifJEvd-jBqhmUm97PVz We really appreciate you visiting us and hope that we'll see you again soon. Sending you best wishes and a Happy New Year too!

[@sandystp9624]

Wonderful video. Do you do anything special for caladium leaves? I find some droop for about 8 hours but I just put in room temperature water. Any suggestions for caladium leaves? Thanks

[@FlowerSchool]

I'm glad that you enjoyed the video........ Caladium leaves are not used in commercial floristry because they will not last. I know of no techniques that will help.

[@sandystp9624]

Thanks understood.

[@malikjahangirkhan5775]

Awesome

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank You.....

[@ag.7129]

Hi, really enjoyed the video! Y'all always do such a great job. Quick questions, do you spray the flowers with crowning glory even if they haven't fully opened? Is room temperature the best temperature for the water in the buckets? Thanks!

[@FlowerSchool]

Hello Arlene and welcome to Flower School! Those are excellent questions and we are so glad you posed them to us. We generally spray our flowers with Crowning Glory after the design is done. It's the last step in processing flowers so they will be beautiful for your arrangements. As for water temperature in the buckets, the goal is to not shock your flowers so room temperature (not too cold, not too hot) is probably best for most flowers. One exception is dahlias which like hot water. If you are interested we have an entire playlist on the care and handling of flowers and you can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyJ_9ifJEvd-jBqhmUm97PVz Thank you for visiting with us and we wish you a delightful week in your work with flowers!

[@seanjavu]

super!

[@FlowerSchool]

So glad you enjoyed the basics of fresh flower care, Seanjavu! We believe that flowers will last longer if you care for them well. Thanks so much for joining us and watching our show, and we hope to see you again soon.

[@vovoglvn]

Hi, I plan on using Juliet garden roses for a Sunday wedding. If I bring them home 5 days before to let them bloom. Do I need to put them in a fridge? I would keep it in a clean fridge without fruit and vegetables. Thank you

[@FlowerSchool]

You can store them in the fridge or in a cool air conditioned room.

[@mattieasse6727]

Tanks for sharing ❤️ How much water is in the rose vase?

[@FlowerSchool]

Thanks so much, Mattie, for watching the show. If you give the roses a clean cut and get them into fresh water right away, they will hydrate well. You don't need too much water in the vase, but make sure they can drink what's there. Here is more information on our website: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/rose.html All the best to you!

[@karinezargaryan441]

What tempature should a cooler be set at for maximum freshness? Thanks!

[@FlowerSchool]

Great question! 34-36 degrees.

[@howstunningly]

You make me want to come to your Institute!

[@FlowerSchool]

We would love to have you join us! You can also take our classes online, here is a link for you: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/distance-learning.html

[@howstunningly]

@@FlowerSchool Thank-you so much!

[@nazeemanoor8180]

do you add water in the vase that you set flowers with quick dip? Or does it only need quick dip?

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you for watching Nazeema. Yes, you would add water to the vase. The quick dip is for processing the flowers to help them drink faster.

[@nazeemanoor8180]

@@FlowerSchool Thank you so much! Love your tips and tricks :)

[@marifesowinski6960]

Do You spray fresh bouquet to make them last longer? What kind of spray?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, Marife! You can spray the bouquet with Crowning Glory which is an anti-transpirant that locks in the moisture of the flowers to keep them fresh longer. We have it available on our website here: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_17 Thank you very much for taking the time to watch our show and share in the beauty of flowers. We hope you have a wonderful week and wish you all the best!

[@Diana-qi9bh]

Do the flowers need to be kept in a fridge? I don’t have access to one and am worried it will affect my work 😅

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, IgniteBeauty! In a perfect world, yes that would be ideal; however, many floral designers do not have coolers and they still are able to accomplish what they need to do. If you have a cool spot in your home like a basement or a garage, that would be a great place to store flowers while you design. Leanne also shares a beautiful story about making a makeshift cooler out of a fishing ice chest with buckets in it. Still others use an air conditioner fit with something called a cool bot that overrides the thermostat to keep things constantly cool. In essence there are many ways to work around having a cooler until yo are ready for one. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch our show today and we hope to see you again very soon or when you find the time. Wishing you all the best and please take good care. Hope your week is filled with flowers galore!

[@ginafernando7149]

Hi, where can I buy flower food, I'm from the Philippines. Thank you. God bless you.

[@FlowerSchool]

Check with floral wholesalers

[@neilg8069]

Floralife is a worldwide company and produces Quick Dip and flower food. You can find Floralife or its parent company Smithers Oasis online!

[@chansaechao4745]

Can you submerged flowers under water to hydrate them?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's a great question, Chan! Some tropical flowers like orchids can be submerged under water to hydrate them. The best solution to hydrating flowers is simply to give them a good cut, then place them into fresh water and flower food to sit quietly and drink. Thank you very much for watching our show, and we look forward to having you with us again for more flower care and handling. P.S. We have some great resources on our website too: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/resources.html

[@chansaechao4745]

How do you know which flowers need or do not quick dip?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's another good question, Chan! Many flowers such as roses and hydrangeas, which are thirsty drinkers, will benefit from Quick Dip. It helps flowers drink more water, which helps them stay fresh and beautiful. It is also a good idea to test different flowers to see how they respond to Quick Dip and then you will have your own data as to what works. Your questions are excellent, and we appreciate them very much and we hope you will join us again soon for Flower School Live!

[@ktommy6524]

How frequently should you condition your flowers?

[@FlowerSchool]

Great question! You only need to condition flowers once before you start designing with them.

[@ktommy6524]

Thank you

[@babiestvchannel5357]

How can I enroll? I am here in the Philippines.

[@FlowerSchool]

You can enroll in our online courses. Here is a link for you www.floraldesigninstitute.com/distance-learning.html

[@cherylpilz9045]

What is this flower food & where do I get it?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, Cheryl! When you buy floral bouquets or arrangements from the florist, they usually give you a small packet of flower food to help keep your flowers fresh and beautiful. We also use it for the same purpose as it contains a sugar which provides nourishment for the cut flowers, a biocide which inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria, and an acidifier, which lowers the pH of the water. We have flower food available for purchase on our website here: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/products/fresh-flower-food-individual-pack-10-ounce-tub It is truly remarkable stuff that will help keep your flowers alive longer. Thank you very much for stopping by to learn about the fresh flower care and handling. We also have a playlist about this topic that may help you as well and you can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyJ_9ifJEvd-jBqhmUm97PVz Wishing you all the best and hope you have a lovely week with flowers!

[@emanfathi2709]

How can I hydrate hydrangeas

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, Eman! We usually give the hydrangeas a fresh cut, dip them in Quick Dip, then in alum, and then we place them into the water to hydrate. Hydrangeas are very thirsty flowers and want to drink water as much as possible to be beautiful and fresh. Thank you so much for taking the time to enjoy fresh flower care and handling with us. We hope it was a good experience for you, and we invite you to join us again soon or whenever you can stop by to visit. Hope your week is a delightful one and comes with flowers of all kinds!

[@burhandawawala4071]

This flower food is made up of what substances?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, Burhan! There are three primary ingredients including a sugar which provides nourishment for the cut flowers, a biocide which inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria, and an acidifier, which lowers the pH of the water. It's the best way to keep your flowers fresh and beautiful. We have it available on our website if you are interested: www.floraldesigninstitute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_17 Hope this information helps. Thank you very much for watching our show and we hope to see you again very soon. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend!

[@anndennis7163]

Can anyone direct me to a video for handling flowers cut from my own garden?

[@FlowerSchool]

That's an excellent question, Ann! This is one of our earlier videos about flowers from the garden and we hope it will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIi8hnSOa9eEfKs Generally fresh flower care and handling for blooms from garden is similar to that of commercial blooms in that placing your freshly cut flowers in clean water and flower food, then giving them time to hydrate will give you the best results. In one of the Flower School Live shows, Teacher Michelle focused on foraging for materials and you can find that one here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enTblKJ3dsiLb8U We also have playlists on Fresh Flower Care and Handling as well as Fresh Foliage Care and Handling. Both of them can be found here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyJ_9ifJEvd-jBqhmUm97PVz and kzbin.info/aero/PLJbJF6YZAYyIyf5OqRoK41vvGG0lJMcZ3. Hopefully all of these shows will give you some insight on shifting your beautiful garden blooms into gorgeous floral designs for your home. Thank you very much for stopping by to visit with us and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Please have a peaceful weekend filled with spring flowers of every kind!

[@anndennis7163]

@@FlowerSchool Thank you! I"m doing a wedding for a friend that has a tight budget and i have lots of flowers that I can use.

[@ChBadiZaman-ss2qh]

❤ beutyfull falwar and you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@FlowerSchool]

Those hearts are marvelous, ChBadi! We are so happy you stopped by to learn more about the basics of fresh flower care and handling. It's an awesome way to insure that your flowers are gorgeous for your floral designs. Thank you for visiting with us and enjoying the show. We look forward to seeing you again soon and wish you a truly wonderful week with flowers!

[@lucycristinamorales8909]

Por favor me dice hablar en español soy de Silvia departamento de cauca país Colombia gracias

[@FlowerSchool]

Hola Lucy y bienvenidos a Flower School! We hope you enjoyed our show on the basics of flower care and handling. Thank you for watching our show and we hope we'll see you again very soon. Muchas gracias por estar con nosotros. Felices Fiestas!

[@user-ke7nc8zq5e]

We don't have quiq dip here is there any thing I can replace it with it 😢

[@FlowerSchool]

You can purchase Quick Dip from our online store, we ship all over the world. Here is a link for you www.floraldesigninstitute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_17&products_id=213

[@katelynmason9179]

This lady talks about flowers like they are her babies, than proceeds to cut them.

[@FlowerSchool]

Thanks very much for your feedback, Katelyn! We love flowers so we do cut them with care so they can drink lots of water and hydrate. We are happy you joined us for the basics of fresh flower care and handling and we hope to see you again soon when you have time.

[@kakaksarah5657]

THE LIGHTING IS BAD. IT IS NOT CLEAR.

[@FlowerSchool]

Thank you for your feedback! We appreciate it and hope you will watch some of our more recent shows in our new studio. Wishing a peaceful week filled with flowers!

[@agustasister5624]

Thst dusty miller looks....bad. ..i cant believe how perky they look....i cant believe this..

[@FlowerSchool]

It works really well, Agusta. Giving them a fresh cut, and allowing them to hydrate overnight in fresh water mixed with flower food is the best way to help your flowers and foliage to drink. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching our show!