PWS 112 Floral Design Exam 1

Which 3 countries are producers and exporters and continue to be the leaders in worldwide cut flower exports?

Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands

What is seasonal availability?

Peak supply times for flowers and foliage due to the plant's natural growth and flowering cycles

Name the 3 main worldwide staple crops.

Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums

Tell why flowers are generally harvested in the early morning?

They typically have higher carbohydrate levels at this time and therefore tend to last longer because they contain stored energy

What 3 US crops are available by grade?

Roses, carnations, and gladioli

How many roses and carnations are typically bunched together?

25

How many of other flower types are typically bunched together?

10 or 12

What does UPC stand for and why are these codes now used on bunches and boxes?

Universal Product Code- they help cut costs, reduce error, and speed delivery of flowers throughout the route of distribution

What is a "conditioning" solution?

A solution that cut flowers are placed into that increases the longevity and quality of cut flowers

Explain rehydration treatment

It is used to quickly hydrate flowers and uses a wetting agent and germicide- no sugar

Explain the pulsing process

A post-harvest treatment used to load flowers with sugar and other chemicals prior to shipment to extend their storage and vase life

Why is a bud-opening solution used?

Speeds the opening of bud-cut flowers before sale- contains sugar and a germicide

What conditions must be incorporated to help open buds beautifully and quickly?

Bud-opening solution, relatively warm temperatures, high humidity, and high light intensity

What is tinting and how and why is this process done?

A treatment to change the natural color of flowers to give customers additional color options

What two flower crops are often shipped in hampers?

Gladioli and snapdragons

Name the specialized strong square and rectangular plastic containers that are used to ship flowers with water?

Procona

What is pre-cooling?

A process that replaces the warm air in a box of flowers with refrigerated air

What is ethylene and what are its effects?

A gas produced by all plants- causes abscission of florets and leaves, leaf yellowing, and flower distortion

What should flowers not be shipped with?

fruits and vegetables

Be familiar with the route of distribution

Foreign growers -->auctions--> brokers -->wholesalers--> retailers -->Final consumers

What is an auction?

A centralized wholesale facility where flowers are graded, packaged, sold, and boxed for shipment by air or truck

What is the role of a broker?

Functions as the marketing hub by managing interactions between the buyers and sellers

What is another name for a broker?

Distributor

What is the function of a wholesaler?

To function as the link between the grower, the broker, shipper or cargo agency, and the retail flower shop or outlet

Why do most wholesalers have various temperature coolers?

To store tropical flowers, roses, and all other types of flowers at the best temperature to preserve them

What are the proper storage cooler conditions for cut flowers?

Low temperature, high humidity, and proper ventilation

Name two wire service companies that spend millions of dollars promoting flowers

Florists' Transworld Delivery, Inc. (FTD) and Teleflora

Be familiar with the trade association SAF.

Society of American Florists- promotes cut flowers and professional florists through various means, also conduct research on health benefits of flowers to create a greater awareness of flowers

What are the types and locations of traditional flower retailers?

Full-service shop- , specialty flower business- affluent locations in close proximity to businesses targeting the same market, limited service flower stores- found in hospitals, hotels, and supermarkets, flower merchandisers- located in high-traffic areas

The majority of floral shops are considered what type of floral shop?

Full-service flower shops

What are some of the common names for flower merchandisers?

stem shops, bucket shops, cash-and-carry shops

What does wire service mean and where does that term come from?

Out-of-town orders are transmitted through computer, phone, &c- flower orders used to be transmitted by wire or telegraph

Name the two original wire service companies that are still in business today

FTD and Teleflora

Besides the "cost of goods", what are the 3 other categories of expenses of a floral shop that must be remembered and included in determining the selling price of products?

Labor, operational expense, and profit

What is senescence in cut flowers?

The aging process

What is postharvest physiology?

The division of plant physiology that deals with the metabolic processes in plant material after it has been harvested

When flowers drink in water they become "turgid" which means what?

Firm

Xylem

the water-conducting tissue that carries water up the stem, to the leaves, and to the flower

Phloem

the food-conducting tissue

What is the typical reason that cut flowers wilt and die prematurely?

The inability to absorb water

What is plugging?

Stem blockage as a result of air, debris, healing from the original cut, or growth of microorganisms at the base of the stem

What is transpiration?

Water loss

What are stomata?

Pores on the leaves

How can transpiration be reduced?

By increasing the surrounding relative humidity

What is respiration in cut flowers and how can the respiration rate be lowered and the use of carbohydrates slowed?

The break-down of food and sugars resulting in the release of energy- can be slowed down by lowering the surrounding temperatures

What is a tropism

A growth curvature caused by some external stimulus such as light or gravity

Phototropism

when a flower curves or bends in the direction of light

Geotropism

when a flower curves bends upward in response to the force of gravity

What is the "aging hormone" and what are its effects on cut flowers?

Ethylene- stimulates deterioration and senescence

Ethylene gas is naturally produced by what?

Plants, fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, and foliage

What is the single most important factor in postharvest flower care and handling?

Temperature management

Why is precooling of cut flowers encouraged?

To increase postharvest longevity

Describe "processing" and when is this done?

The initial treatment of fresh flowers at each level of distribution

Why re-cut stems?

To open up the water-conducting vessels of the xylem and allow the stems to drink in water and become hydrated and turgid

What is the conditioning process?

The process of preparing cut flowers for shipping, storage, or arrangement by holding them at room temperature while they drink in a conditioning solution

Why is it important to remove the lower leaves on stems that will be submerged in water?

The soggy foliage will decompose, increasing the growth of microorganisms and the production of ethylene

What does new research reveal about removing entire thorns?

It is not necessary because it can damage stems, allowing bacteria to move into newly formed scars where thorns were located

Some flowers bleed a milky sap when they are cut, what is this substance generally called?

Latex

When a flower is described as "wilt-sensitive" or "dry-prone" what does this refer to?

Wilt-sensitive: wilt easily and transpire rapidly, resulting in lost turgidity

Dry-prone: shedding of florets and leaves

What does pH stand for?

The relative concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

What is the ideal pH solution for cut flowers?

3.0-4.5

What are the problems with hard water and softened water?

Hard water- contains minerals that make water alkaline, which means that it will not move readily through stems and can substantially reduce vase life

Soft water: has added sodium that can do more damage to flowers

What are the 3 main ingredients in flower food and what does each do to ensure a longer vase life?

Sugars: carbohydrates to nourish

Biocide: inhibits the growth of microorganisms

Acidifiers: lowers pH levels

Name two "home products" that can be added to the water to help cut flowers last longer?

Lemon-lime soft drinks and medicinal-type mouthwash

What are the 3 main functions of refrigerated storage for fresh flowers (i.e. cold temp to lower rate of respiration; etc.)

Reduce the rate of respiration

Reduce water loss or transpiration

Reduce the rate of bacterial growth and ethylene production and action

How do the concepts of harmony and unity differ in floral design?

Harmony: the parts are more important than the whole

Unity: the whole is more important than the parts

What are style, composition, and design?

Style: personal interpretation that the floral artist adds to the design, type or expression of the actual design

Composition: completed arrangement made from parts, individual objects, and even ideas that are organized into a unified whole

Design: arrangement of parts, details, forms, colors, and other elements that is a finished or completed artistic unit

Generally, what 3 parts make up the design process?

Thinking, observing, and practicing

Name some man-made accessories and also some from nature.

Man-made: bows and ribbons, candles, signs, plush toys

Nature: feathers, pinecones, weeds, sticks, bamboo, berries, fruits, and vegetables

What are some ways unity may be expressed?

Incorporating the concepts of proximity, repetition, and transition

What is a mille de fleur design?

Incorporates many diverse flower varieties and colors into one composition, yet blends together to make a unified whole

What is the simplest way to achieve unity when using repetition?

Repetition of the same color

Odorless, colorless, syrupy liquid used to preserve evergreens and some flowers?

Glycerin

A substance that absorbs moisture; flowers are buried; most effective substance?

Silica gel

The simplest of all drying techniques; uses minimum time and supplies?

Air-drying

Time-honored method of preserving some flowers and leaves

Pressing

Flat, generally done commercially, water in the flowers changes from ice to water vapor

Freeze-drying

Oldest desiccant; used anciently?

Fine sand

Hang stems upside-down during the process for best results?

Yes, this keeps stems straight

Who devised a scientific naming system of plants and when?

Carolus Linnaeus in 1700

Who was he and where was he from? (also see glossary).

A Swedish botanist, naturalist, and explorer

What is a binomial naming system?

A two-word method used to identify plants

Why is some foliage considered "seasonal" and is only harvested for 3 or 4 months each year?

Many evergreen conifers are associated with winter or Christmas.

Why are some leaves from potted plants used in floral design?

They add exciting colors, patterns, and visual interest

In addition to cut foliage and leaves, what are some other plant parts (besides flowers) that are often used in floral designs?

Foliage, pods, berries, woody branches, and roots

What is the definition of "cut foliage" and what are alternative names in the floral industry for cut foliage?

Individual leaves, leafy stems, and large woody foliage branches are cut from the "mother plant" and then packaged in bunches; cut greens

What are "woody cuts" and what are requirements to be used in the floral industry?

Branches and stems harvested from woody vines, shrubs, and trees, must have tall stems and quality postharvest life or vase life, and continue for several days or weeks as a beautiful branch in a floral arrangement

Why is Latin or the Latin-based name used?

Its the only unmistakable and unfailing name for any plant.

Plants are grouped according to what?

Similar and reliable characteristics by using latin names. Grouped by genus name.

Botanical name -

two part latin name given to plants and flowers, consisting of the genus and species name.