ABOUT
~What Cut Flower is That?~
In a nutshell!
What Cut Flower is That? is the is the fundamental guide for anyone involved with the growing, wholesaling, retailing, and handling of fresh cut flowers. It explains in detail how to identify, choose, and care for your cut flowers to make them last as long as possible (ideal vase life) in a vase or arrangement.
All the information is presented in a user-friendly format to educate anyone and everyone who handles cut flowers, from students new to the industry right through to experienced business owners, marketers, and senior florists.
The Australian flower industry is quite unlike other industries and fresh cut flowers are among the most perishable products we buy. When cut flowers last well and purchasers perceive them as good value, they are more likely to become loyal customers and return for further purchases.
This book is designed to be kept on the work bench for easy access to the A to Z of 116 cut flower and 30 foliage profiles for staff education and to share with their customers.
It provides extensive information about flower quality, essential postharvest care and typical problems and includes vital current research and industry knowledge. Techniques to maximise product quality and vase life are discussed in detail, including recommended holding temperatures, cooling, hydration, hygiene, care in handling, conditioning, use of floral foam and advice to customers.
The authors unravel the mysteries of issues that have the potential to reduce flower quality and vase life – air embolisms, stem blockages, ethylene, geotropism, leaf blackening, uneven stem lengths, grey mould and issues associated with imported flowers.
Each full-page entry comprehensively lists common and botanical names, seasonal availability, vase life, stem length, typical bunch size, colour range, buying tips, care and handling, which floral preservatives to use, ethylene sensitivity, storage temperature, design uses in floristry and special advice and each product is illustrated with one or several beautiful colour photographs to aid recognition.
Special advice is given on caring for orchids and tropical species.
Colour tabs on the page margins highlight various products...
~ Australian
~ Tropical
~ Orchid &
~ South African
Handy ‘read at a glance’ charts provide information not previously available in this format for the Australian floral industry. Use them to readily identify complementary products according to season of availability or colour.
These are:
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The Quick Guide to Australian Native Flowers and Foliages, including berries, cones and nuts according to season of availability and colour range. This list will undoubtedly become a lasting and valued resource across industry, replacing much of the misinformation that currently persists in some corners of industry and education.
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The Seasonal guide to Traditional, South African and Australian Wildflowers, Orchids and Tropical Flowers lists flowers by common and botanical names, season and colour range. In this guide native Australian and South African flower and foliage products, orchids and tropical flowers are featured and identified alongside the range of currently available traditional flowers. Additional notes and special care advice are given for orchids and tropical species.
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A section on Environmental and Noxious Weeds, how florists can contribute to the problem of spreading weeds, and a list of common weeds used/to be avoided. This represents a first for an Australian floristry manual.
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A chart of Ethylene Sensitive flowers, ranked by low, medium or high sensitivity.
