Wrapping of bouquet stem ends in a water-holding material prior to e-commerce shipping is often done to ensure that the bouquet arrives at its final destination looking fresh and hydrated. We wanted to evaluate the effects of FloraLife® Bouquet Wrap on fresh weight (FWT) loss, vase solution uptake, and vase life during simulated 48-hour shipping at two different temperatures: 20C (68F) or 30C (86F).
Methods
‘Freedom,’ ‘Pink Floyd,’ ‘Orange Crush,’ and ‘Deep Purple’ roses were received from a Colombian grower. Flowers were air-freighted to Miami and dry-shipped on refrigerated truck to a local wholesaler. Flower bunches were randomized into 4 treatment groups of 9 stems of each cultivar. For each treatment, flowers were assembled into three mixed rose bouquets containing 3 stems of each cultivar and placed in standard plastic bouquet sleeves. Bouquets were hydrated in tap water overnight in the flower cooler at 3C (37F), and fresh weights were recorded. FloraLife Bouquet Wrap treatments were applied, and flowers were dry packed in shipping boxes and placed in darkness in separate rooms at the two simulated shipping temperatures:
- Control – 48-hour simulated shipping at 20C (68F)
- Control – 48-hour simulated shipping at 30C (86F)
- FloraLife Bouquet Wrap – 48-hour simulated shipping at 20C (68F)
- FloraLife Bouquet Wrap – 48-hour simulated shipping at 30C (86F)
Following simulated shipping treatments, bouquets were unpacked and weighed. Bouquet wrap treatments were removed prior to weighing. Photos were taken, and bouquets were given a fresh cut and placed in vases containing exactly 1 liter of FloraLife Clear 300 flower food for consumer vase-life evaluation.
FloraLife