Intro to Floriculture Exploring the International Flower Market

Intro to Floriculture Exploring the International Flower Market

Concept Map!

I. History of Floral Design • A. to properly arrange flowers so that they become a “work of art”. These guidelines are called principles of design. • Arrangements are judged by these principles

Basic laws • fundamentals, truths or methods of operation that have been tested and proven for many centuries.

Concepts of floral design • Two concepts developed independently of each other. • Occidental Style – evolved in Egyptian and Middle Eastern Cultures – further developed by the Europeans • Oriental Style- began in China later explored by the Japanese

Egyptian Period • 2800 -28 BC • arranged separate rows of different colored flowers in shallow bowls • feast tables were often decorated with fruits and vegetables neatly piled in low baskets

Egyptian Period • several flowers were considered sacred, symbolizing Egyptian Gods and Goddesses • Lotus and Water Lillies were placed in elaborate vases, bowls and jars

Ancient Greeks • 600 -146 BC • Did not arrange flowers in vases, scattered blossoms on tables and on the streets • flowers were used to make garland wreaths worn during special occasions. – Presented as awards to athletes, statesmen and soldiers.

Ancient Greeks • the cornucopia (horn or plenty) was filled with fruits and vegetables and placed in an upright position rather than on its side as done today

Romans • 28 BC - 325 AD • continued the customs of the Greeks • arrangements and usage became more elaborate • scatter roses on banquet tables and on the floor • scarves filled with blossoms were offered at an altar in Roman Religious Ceremonies

Byzantine Period • 320 -600 AD • arrangements of cut flowers used again • formal conical designs with clusters of blossoms at regular intervals

Renaissance • 1400 -1600 AD • beautifully documented in paintings • designs were large, tall, pyramidal, and symmetrically balanced • flower arrangements were loose, un-crowded and airy • formal bouquets featured the most important flower situated centrally, at the top of the

Renaissance • flowers were arranged so that they were about twice the height of the container • intense colors were used to create contrast with the white plastered walls of buildings

Renaissance • several traditional floral designs of today are styled after renaissance arrangements

Baroque Period • began as symmetrical, oval shaped designs • asymmetrical curves in the shape of a crescent or an “s” were adopted later • an abundance of flower types and colors were used together • arrangements incorporated a variety of accessories such as figurines and butterflies

Baroque • the “s” curve and crescent arrangements developed during this period are popular today

Flemish-style • 1600 -1750 AD • beautifully captured by Dutch painters • traditional baroque styles were refined • refined - not as loose and open • better proportioned and more compact • Rich colors and an array of flowers were combined into masses, oval shape bouquets

Flemish style • The French developed mass arrangements during the same time that were lighter and more airy than those of the Dutch. • Arrangements were made from delicate flowers in light pastel colors.

Georgian period • 1714 -1760 A. D. • Time period that spanned the reigns of the English kings George I and George II • Arrangements were greatly influenced by Chinese arts. • Usually symmetrical and triangularly shaped. • Many featured a single flower type. • Designs moved away from formality and symmetry in the late part of the period.

Georgian period • nosegay, or handheld bouquet became stylish • small nosegay bouquets placed in bowls were the first use of table centerpieces as we know them today.

Georgian period • Georgian art influenced the decorative arts in Colonial America. • Fan shaped and triangular arrangements were made and sometimes placed near the center of interest near the rim of the container.

Georgian period • boxwood, ivy, and magnolia were used with garden flowers in the summer • berries, cones, greens with fruit were used during the winter along with dried flowers.

Unit Objectives • 1. Describe the scope of the international flower market in the florist industry. • 2. Explain the international flower distribution system. • 1. Explain the basic requirements of cut flowers. • 2. Understand the causes of deterioration and death of flowers. • 3. Describe the steps of effective conditioning of flowers and foliage. • 4. Explain the importance of using floral preservatives. • 5. Learn about commercial packing and shipping.

Essential Question • How big is the international market to the cut flower industry?

Warm Up • Is this Floriculture? Why do you think so?

Floriculture- What is it? • Definition: – flower gardening: the cultivation of flowering plants • Think about it again: – Which is floriculture?

Scope of the Industry • Some numbers to consider – 90% of the carnations, 71% of the roses, and 89% of the chrysanthemums sold in the US are produced in other countries.

Where does it all come from? • Flowers often produced in: – Hydroponic greenhouses • flowers are grown in a nutrient rich water solution versus soil • Netherlands & Columbia – Leading growing countries – Grown outside – Labor in other countries if often cheaper than US

What’s in the US? • Domestic Market: – Product made and sold within the country – On the decline • Air travel has allowed for international market – International Flower Auction in Aalsmeer, Netherlands

International Distribution • Internet – Retail can order direct from grower in Columbia etc • Getting into the US – Flowers must come through customers – U. S. Customs Department • part of the government that imposes international tariffs ($) on products produced outside the United States

Where do some flowers come from?

Possiblities • Carnations from Columbia + roses from Israel + tropical flowers from Hawaii = Flown to flower auctions in Holland • How does this happen? • Exporters: companies that ship products to companies in other countries. • Mass Market: setting where the general public can acquire particular goods.

How does the Mass market work? • Field workers in Columbia will cut flowers in the fields early in the morning; The flowers will arrive at the auction the same day. The next day a buyer will purchase the flowers and ship them to, for example, Chicago, where they will arrive at a wholesaler’s facility and be conditioned. They will be shipped to a retail florist the next day. Often a wholesaler will purchase direct from a grower, eliminating one full day and allowing the florist to obtain the product a day earlier. The wholesaler of today sells to retail florists, garden centers, other retail outlets, and the mass market.

• Draw a representation of the flow of Flower products

Activity • Review Quiz 1

Intro to Floriculture Caring for Cut Flowers

Essential Question • When a flower is cut, what are its needs?

Warm Up • These flowers were sent from an online ordering service. How are they cared for while they travel? How are they cared for when they arrive?

Fresh cut flower requirements • Even after being cut: flowers still photosynthesize • Requirements – 1. High Water Quality • • Keep turgid levels up Not too acidic or alkaline Not too hard or soft Low salinity: measurement of the total dissolved salt

Fresh cut flower requirements continued… • 2. Food and Sugar – Sucrose and Dextrose – From stored sugar or floral preservatives

Fresh cut flower requirements continued… • 3. Healthy Environment – Fresh air, no ethylene – Conditioning: prep of materials for arranging by allowing adequate solution uptake – Warm water! = increases uptake – Re-cut flowers and defoliate below the water line – Hardening: full of water after conditioning • After all this, plants are placed in coolers

Fresh cut flower requirements continued… • 4. Sanitation: – Provides long lasting flowers – Keep Hands, tools, knives, shears, containers and work areas CLEAN! – Clean on a regular basis

Deterioration and Death • Deterioration begins as soon as the flower is cut! – Humans must provide the needs! • Senescence

Causes of Deterioration • 1. Genetic Life – Each flower is pre-programmed – Want to achieve maximum life! • Flower Life Span – – – Daylily 1 day Dutch Iris 3– 5 days Rose 5– 7 days Carnations 10– 14 days Chrysanthemums 14– 21 days

Causes of Deterioration • 2. Wilting – excessive water loss or lack of absorption • Blocked vascular tissue – Transpiration and Respiration • Water loss process of plant • Avoid drafts and over handling – Stem Blockage • Most common cause • No water movement and can occur

Causes of Deterioration • 3. Timing of Harvest – Time of Day • Never cut in heat of the day – Cut – Evening » Done photosynthesizing for the day – Early morning » Full of water – Stage of Flowering • Just before flower is fully open

Causes of Deterioration • 4. Ethylene Gas – Naturally produced by aging plants – Signs • fallen petals, dropped florets, and yellowing leaves – Avoided by using ethylene inhibitors • products that block or tie up the gas. • 5. Disease/Damage – Flowers chosen should be of highest quality – Free of insect damage

Maximize Vase Life • A. Flowers should be unpacked and inspected upon receiving. A report should be made to the wholesaler of any problems or mistakes. • B. Prioritize the order of processing; wiltprone and expensive flowers should be processed first. • C. Remove sleeves, ties and any foliage that might contact water in a container.

Maximize Vase Life • D. Under warm water, re-cut all stems, removing ½ inch to 1 inch. Professional underwater cutting devices are recommended in order to maximize life span. • E. Use specific treatment solutions as needed. • F. Place in floral preservative solution mixed at the proper concentration. Too little encourages bacterial growth, too much can cause toxicity.

Maximize Vase Life • G. Let the flowers remain at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours to increase water uptake. • H. Place the flowers in a cooler set at 34 to 38°F with a high humidity level and constant light.

Maximize Vase Life • I. Milky stems should be treated by quickly dipping them in boiling water for five seconds and then placing them in a floral preservative solution. Alternative methods include exposing the cut end into a match flame without burning it or placing it in very warm floral preservative solution. • J. Roses that have lost turgidity near the flower head are called bent necks. They can be revived by placing the stems in a warm preservative solution and recutting them under water.

Floral Preservatives • Extend the life of cut flowers – sugar as a supplemental food source – acidifier to decrease the chance of stem clogging – bactericide to kill bacteria in a vase or stem • Pre-treatments – Used before preservatives – Reduce ethylene exposure – Hydrate flowers that are wilt prone

Field to Florist • Flowers are graded – separated into groups based on factors such as quality, uniformity, and size, stem quality, length, and strength. • Bundled and sleeved for shipping and boxed – Precooled / Drypacked • quickly replacing the warm air with cool air inside the box

Activities • Review Quiz 2

Intro to Floriculture Exploring Floral Design

Essential Question • What elements are important in floral design?

Warm Up • What makes this floral arrangement “pretty” ?

Floral Design / Floral Arranging • The art of organizing the design elements inherent in plant materials and accessories according to principles of design art

Principles of Design • rules and guidelines used by the floral designer to create a beautiful composition

Principles : Major • A. Proportion is the pleasing relationship between size and shape among objects and parts of objects. • B. Balance in a flower arrangement refers to the arrangement’s equilibrium and equality in weight, both physical and visual. • C. Rhythm is the orderly organization of a design elements to create a visual pathway. • D. Dominance in a design means that one design element is more prevalent or noticeable, thereby capturing interest of the viewer.

Principles: Minor • E. Radiation is the design element that makes it look as if all stems are coming from one point. • F. Repetition is repeating the use of floral design elements to create unity in the work. • G. Transition is the smooth gradual change from one material or element to another. • H. Variation is the diverse assortment of materials, stimulating interest. • I. Contrast describes objects arranged with a striking difference, stimulating interest. • J. Focal point is the center of interest of the design, visually tying it together.

Proportion • Consider where it will be displayed • Height of an arrangement should be 1½ times the height of its container’s greatest dimension – 4 main areas of focus • • 1. 2. 3. 4. Physical dimensions of the container Its color Its material and texture Its shape – Centerpieces: should never obstruct views

Balance • Meaning design equilibrium or equality in weight – Physical: actual stability of plant materials within the container – Visual: the perception of the arrangement being balanced • Symmetrical: same physical balance on both sides of its central axis • Asymmetrical: present when a design has unequal material placements and weight on each side of its axis

Achieving Balance • Visual weight is a flower’s perceived lightness or heaviness based on its color, shape, and pattern. • Centering is the technique of placing dominant plant material along a design’s central vertical axis. • Counterbalancing means balancing plant materials on one side of a design with visually equal materials on the opposite side.

Rhythm • Regular, repeated rhythm is present when materials are repeated at regular intervals from the top to the bottom of an arrangement. • Free, variable rhythm is an unstructured style with subtle flowing movements created with unstructured materials

Rhythm Techniques • A. Radiation—Stems radiate out naturally from the container. A top view shows the stems appearing as spokes on a wheel. Crossing stems is avoided. • B. Repetition—Repeating design elements throughout an arrangement including, but not limited to, color, shape, space and lines.

Rhythm Techniques Contin… • C. Transition—Change from one material to another. It should be smooth and gradual. Lighter flowers near the container edge blend into the heavier ones near the center. • D. Variety—Diverse assortment or differing components in a design. Variety focuses attention and stimulates interest and imagination. • E. Contrast —Describes objects that have striking differences beyond mere variety or diversity, taking variety to a higher degree.

Dominance • Dominance can be achieved by: – 1. Using – 2. Using element – 3. Using – 4. Using – 5. Using dominant plant material an emphasized design a distinct style of design a theme a focal point • Focal Point: center of interest , arrangements need this!

Focal Point Creation • 1. Use of large flowers • 2. Use of special form flowers such as orchids • 3. Employing dark shades • 4. Variation of concentration of plant material • 5. Use of framing materials • 6. Use of strong color contrast • 7. Radiation of plant materials to a particular area • 8. Use of accessories

Activities • Review Quiz 3

Intro to Floriculture Understanding Design Elements

Essential Question • How does color influence floral design?

Warm Up • What types of themes do you see in this arrangement?

Floral Arrangements • Flowers, Greenery, Container • Design Elements: – Physical characteristics that the designer uses to create the arrangements – Shape – 2 dimensional – Form -3 dimensional • Naturalistic, Free Form, Geometric

Floral Forms • Naturalistic – mirror the natural growth of plant material – branches to symbolize trees and shorter flowers as undergrowth.

Floral Forms • Free Form – more contemporary – any liberty with color, shape, and placement

Floral Form • Geometric – circle and the triangle – can be varied to create ovals, fans, or crescent arrangements from the circle and right triangles, scalene triangles and isosceles triangles from the basic triangle

All Forms • Created with Lines – visual movement between two points in an arrangement • Use Line materials – used to create very definite vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curvilinear lines – Examples: snapdragon, liatris, and scotch broom

Form Flowers • Form Flowers: distinctive shapes like lilies or tropical flowers • Mass Flowers: round, solid flowers like carnations and mums • Filler Flowers: light, airy flowers like baby’s breath and sea lavender that fill in the space between other flowers

Space and Depth • Space: – Areas that are devoid of flowers • Depth – gives the arrangement more of a three dimensional form than just a shape. • Adds interest and character, makes arrangement appear larger with less material,

Texture • Refers to the surface quality of the plant material. • Plant Material – rough, smooth, leathery, velvety, satiny, or hairy – fine or airy, lacy, delicate, or bold and coarse.

Color Wheel Copy this color wheel onto a separate piece of paper. Include Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, and Tertiary Colors. More color concepts will be added later.

Colors Importance • Colors create and influence emotion • Monochromatic – Variations of 1 color – Red: deep red, maroon, pale pinks, and hot pinks • Polychromatic: – Various colors • Analogous: – Using colors next to each other on the color wheel • Complimentary: – Use colors opposite each other on the color wheel

Color Wheel • Add Monochromatic, Polychromatic, Complimentary and Analogous color schemes to your color wheel.

Visual Color • Advancing color: moves towards the viewer – Yellow • Receding color: moves away from the viewer – Purple

Activity • Review Quiz 4

Intro to Floriculture Designing Basic Floral Work

Essential Question • Why is floral foam so useful in arrangements?

Warm Up • What could be done to improve this arrangement?

Tools- Cutting Tools • Knives: pocket knife (folds away when not in use), keep sharp for best results, could produce injuries • Florist Shears: cutting tool with short, serrated edges designed for cutting thick or woody stems and flowers that have been wired.

Tools: Cutting Tools • Pruning Shears: used in the landscaping area to cut branches from a tree or shrub. – Good for evergreens at Christmas • Scissors: cutting both ribbon and floral stems. Utility and fabric scissors

Tools: Supplies • Floral Foam (Oasis): porous, holds water, used wet or dry, comes in a brick – Soak for 30 minutes in water with preservative before use with fresh flowers – Foam Rules • • Leave ½” above container for stability Foam can be wrapped Leave space for water later! Anchor to container – Hot glue (disposal container) – Water proof double sided tape – Anchor pins, used with clay at bottom of container

Other Anchors • Needlepoint/Pincushion holder: attached to container with floral clay • Chicken Wire: good for heavy branches • Greening Pin: ‘s’ top ‘hairpin’, keeps foliage in place • Water tubes: plastic tubes with rubber tops and holes to put fresh flowers in, potted arrangements • Hyacinth Pins: green wooden stakes that offer support for heavy flowers

Vase Arrangements • Originated in Italy • Bud Vase: most commonly ordered – Often hard to make for beginners – Avoid holes by: • Foliage grid: place greenery in a circle to create natural framework • Tape Grid: place tape at 90 degree angles to make framework • Marble: placed at the bottom of the vase provide support

Geometric Design • Visualize your shape – Set the height, add width, contour • Contour: three dimensional radiation in an arrangement • Remember: Tall flowers in the back and work forward! • Vertical: Linear arrangement • Triangular: Popular! Weddings • Circular: Used commercially

Floral Design Review

Triangular

Naturalistic Design • Draws on nature and gardening for inspiration • Grouping: placing flowers and foliage in units as if they were naturally growing there • Often use baskets • Sheet moss/ Spanish moss often used • Fake birds, insects etc used to accent

Foiling • Decorating floral pots • Types – Lightweight: not as resistant to tearing and water damage. It is colored on one side and silver on the other. – Poly Foil: polyethylene added to the silver side, more resistant to tearing

Activity • Review Quiz 5

Intro to Floriculture Designing Centerpieces

Essential Question • What is one important piece of information when taking a centerpiece order?

Warm Up • What holiday could this be used for?

Centerpieces • Since the 18 th Century ! • Started low, now come in varying heights • Centerpieces throughout a room coordinate

Typical Centerpieces • Bud Vases- one to three flowers, small, multiples on a long table • Small Vase- ratio of 1 to 1 flowers, more emphasis on flowers • Round centerpieces- round and square tables, low and round, looks the same from any point

Typical Centerpieces • Oval Centerpieces- oval or rectangle tables, outline may be triangular or rounded • Conical centerpieces- cone shaped, three dimensional • Tall Centerpieces- add dimension to a room, room appears smaller

Centerpiece Accessories • Add atmosphere and interest • Create harmony • Examples: Candle with holder, fruit, ribbons

Taking a Centerpiece Order • 1. When is the event, date, time, and how much time is needed to set up? • 2. Where is the location and what is the size of the room? • 3. What is the style of the room? • 4. What are the room colors, and what are the colors associated with the event or event sponsor? • 5. What is the preferred style of the event (formal, informal, casual, contemporary, elegant)? • 6. How many tables will need centerpieces and what are the shapes and sizes of the tables? • 7. How many additional floral designs will be needed? • 8. What is the budget for flowers? • 9. What is the “feel” for the event?

Flowers and Holidays • Valentines Day: Roses, Baby’s Breath, Red and White Carnations, Plush Animals chocolates • St. Patrick’s: Green tinted carnations, shamrocks • Easter: Spiritual/Whimsical, pastel/vibrant colors • Mother’s Day: Spring type flowers

Flowers and Holidays • Halloween: fall colors, pumpkins, cornucopia. Fastest growing holiday for arrangements • Thanksgiving: Analogous colors, cornucopia, Raffia (palm material) • Christmas: real and artificial, votive candles, wreaths

Activity • Step 1: Practice with a partner – Taking a floral arrangement order • Step 2: How can we streamline this process? – Think of a process that would make ordering a centerpiece quicker, easier • Step 3: How can we improve the experience? – Are their other questions you could add to the process to make ordering more accurate?

Activity • Review Quiz 6

Work to Check In • • Review Quiz 1 -6 ? Book Work Unit 49? Floral Design with prompt? Color Wheel with keys?

Test Review Repetition, Focal point, Radiation, Balance, Contrast, Proportion, Dominance, Transition, Rhythm, Variation, Naturalistic, Free Form, Geometric (design) • Vocabulary: • What are the main color schemes that can be used in floral design? Describe the international market of cut flowers from the producer to the retail florist What are the 5 main causes of deterioration? What are the main requirements of fresh cut flowers? Represent the 3 types of triangular designs. What is floral foam? What are the “rules” for it s use? • • •