Phals in Summer Thread

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Phals in Summer (Forums : Questions & Answers : Phals in Summer)	Locked
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heather	Jan 11 2010, 12:37pm Anchor
Hi Everyone Just a question re phals for a few weddings in February. I know they arent the best flowers in the heat, but both brides insist on using the phalaenopsis orchids in the bouquets. I have sourced a grower who can get them for me. Does anyone have any suggestions on keeping them alive and stop them wilting? Does the cotton buds help these flowers? Also - Is it true that you shouldnt store them in the fridge? Any help would be great. Ta Heather
Flowerfusion	Jan 11 2010, 1:45pm Anchor
Hi Heather, I have always been told "never put any orchid in the fridge as they will go transparent", not sure if anyone has disproved this yet. I am pretty sure they would be o.k in warm temps as they are tropical flowers. In regards to wiring they should last at least 72 hours with just a wax seal, but certainly wiring anything with a water supply (soaked cottonwool/tissue paper) is best. You only need a small amount of cottonwool, but the most important thing about wiring with cottonwool/tissue paper is to make sure the parafilm is completely sealed and airtight, otherwise it will dry out and be a waste of your efforts. See also a previous thread re: Wiring Phalaenopsis, listed in the Wiring Techniques section of these forums, whilst it doesn't mention water supply it may help a little. Cheers, Annette Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts
Alex	Jan 11 2010, 5:00pm Anchor
Hi Heather, Annette's recommendation to wiring them with a water supply is definitely the best advice that can be given and I'd hope one that is practiced by a fair amount of florists. In regards to sourcing them which can be patchy, We've found the best solution is to use plants themselves - when prices are so reasonable they provide a guarantee of good fresh blooms and in comparison to buying the blooms on a stem, only a slight increase in cost. Alex
heather	Jan 12 2010, 10:09am Anchor
Thanks guys - thats very helpful. I will definately be wiring them with a water supply then. I have used done this in the past with lillies, but I have not found the need to do it with other types of orchids. Heather Sorry - one more quick question if you can Anne. I have never used the method of using a wax seal. How is this done? Ta
nic	Jan 12 2010, 4:01pm Anchor
Also cutting them off the stem and placing them in a shallow dish of water a few hours before using them will also help to fully hydrate the flower, which will help to keep them firm. Place a grid of sticky tape or pot tape over the container so only the stem not the flower is in the water. I would also wire them with a water source as the above people mentioned. To wax the end of the flower you dip the stem of the flower into melted candle wax. Be careful not to damage the flower. Cheers Nic
Thundermonkey	Jan 19 2010, 11:37am Anchor
Hey flower fusion, Where is the wiring tech thread on this board. Would like to see it. Cheers, D
Flowerfusion	Jan 19 2010, 3:47pm Anchor
Hi Donna, Click on Forums, scroll down the bottom to Resourses & Knowledge section. You will find it there. Cheers, Annette Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts
heather	Feb 11 2010, 4:47pm Anchor
Just wanted to let you all know that I did my phal wedding last weekend and it was a winner thanks to all of your advice. The cottonwool method worked a treat, but also the cutting them and putting them into a shallow dish of water to drink for 24hrs was brilliant. It really hydrated them well. I actually went to this wedding, and the flowers still looked perfect at 11pm as the bride was leaving - which is the way it should be! Thanks again! Heather
Rach	Feb 20 2010, 8:28am Anchor
Hi Heather, I would love to see some photos of the bouquets..
Caz	Feb 20 2010, 10:28am Anchor
I haven't heard of cutting them short and hydrating the flower head before, makes sense. Does this work for orientals as well??
heather	Mar 7 2010, 6:44pm Anchor
Hi Caz Ive never tried it with Orientals, and i think they need a good water source to last. They are a much bigger flower and require more hydration. I recommend wiring with the cottonwool method, or a flower source. Hey Rach Would love to show you some shots, but cant figure out how to put an image in....you know how...?? Figured it out!
Flowerfusion	Mar 12 2010, 6:23am Anchor
Caz, Another thing you can do with Orientals is spray them with Chrysal 'Glory' spray, this slows the loss of water through the petals. Cheers, Annette Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts

Thread Options

heather

Jan 11 2010, 12:37pm Anchor

Hi Everyone

Just a question re phals for a few weddings in February.

I know they arent the best flowers in the heat, but both brides insist on using the phalaenopsis orchids in the bouquets. I have sourced a grower who can get them for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on keeping them alive and stop them wilting? Does the cotton buds help these flowers?

Also - Is it true that you shouldnt store them in the fridge?

Any help would be great.

Ta

Heather

Flowerfusion

Jan 11 2010, 1:45pm Anchor

Hi Heather,

I have always been told "never put any orchid in the fridge as they will go transparent", not sure if anyone has disproved this yet. I am pretty sure they would be o.k in warm temps as they are tropical flowers. In regards to wiring they should last at least 72 hours with just a wax seal, but certainly wiring anything with a water supply (soaked cottonwool/tissue paper) is best. You only need a small amount of cottonwool, but the most important thing about wiring with cottonwool/tissue paper is to make sure the parafilm is completely sealed and airtight, otherwise it will dry out and be a waste of your efforts. See also a previous thread re: Wiring Phalaenopsis, listed in the Wiring Techniques section of these forums, whilst it doesn't mention water supply it may help a little.

Cheers,
Annette
Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts

Alex

Jan 11 2010, 5:00pm Anchor

Hi Heather,

Annette's recommendation to wiring them with a water supply is definitely the best advice that can be given and I'd hope one that is practiced by a fair amount of florists. In regards to sourcing them which can be patchy, We've found the best solution is to use plants themselves - when prices are so reasonable they provide a guarantee of good fresh blooms and in comparison to buying the blooms on a stem, only a slight increase in cost.

Alex

heather

Jan 12 2010, 10:09am Anchor

Thanks guys - thats very helpful.

I will definately be wiring them with a water supply then. I have used done this in the past with lillies, but I have not found the need to do it with other types of orchids.

Heather

Sorry - one more quick question if you can Anne. I have never used the method of using a wax seal.

How is this done?

Ta

nic

Jan 12 2010, 4:01pm Anchor

Also cutting them off the stem and placing them in a shallow dish of water a few hours before using them will also help to fully hydrate the flower, which will help to keep them firm. Place a grid of sticky tape or pot tape over the container so only the stem not the flower is in the water. I would also wire them with a water source as the above people mentioned.

To wax the end of the flower you dip the stem of the flower into melted candle wax. Be careful not to damage the flower.

Cheers Nic

Thundermonkey

Jan 19 2010, 11:37am Anchor

Hey flower fusion,
Where is the wiring tech thread on this board. Would like to see it.

Cheers, D

Flowerfusion

Jan 19 2010, 3:47pm Anchor

Hi Donna,

Click on Forums, scroll down the bottom to Resourses & Knowledge section. You will find it there.

Cheers,
Annette
Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts

heather

Feb 11 2010, 4:47pm Anchor

Just wanted to let you all know that I did my phal wedding last weekend and it was a winner thanks to all of your advice. The cottonwool method worked a treat, but also the cutting them and putting them into a shallow dish of water to drink for 24hrs was brilliant. It really hydrated them well. I actually went to this wedding, and the flowers still looked perfect at 11pm as the bride was leaving - which is the way it should be!

Thanks again!

Heather

Rach

Feb 20 2010, 8:28am Anchor

Hi Heather,
I would love to see some photos of the bouquets..

Caz

Feb 20 2010, 10:28am Anchor

I haven't heard of cutting them short and hydrating the flower head before, makes sense. Does this work for orientals as well??

heather

Mar 7 2010, 6:44pm Anchor

Hi Caz

Ive never tried it with Orientals, and i think they need a good water source to last. They are a much bigger flower and require more hydration. I recommend wiring with the cottonwool method, or a flower source.

Hey Rach

Would love to show you some shots, but cant figure out how to put an image in....you know how...??

Figured it out!

Flowerfusion

Mar 12 2010, 6:23am Anchor

Caz,
Another thing you can do with Orientals is spray them with Chrysal 'Glory' spray, this slows the loss of water through the petals.

Cheers,
Annette
Flowerfusion - Flowers & Gifts