Farm Direct Flowers

-5 Star Collection
-Roses
-Spray Roses
-Alstroemeria
-Asters
-Premium Asters
-Carnations
-Mini Carnations
-Gypsophila
-Pompons
-Chrysanthemum
-Calla Lily
-Liatris
-Misty Blue Limonium
-Snapdragons
-Statice
-Sunflowers

Each box contains 20 bunches of 10 stems per bunch. Assorted boxes are available in the following varieties. Color selection in the assortments are pink, white, red, yellow, and purple. Solid boxes are available only in Rosita at the present time.

Supplemental care and marketing tips: When re-cutting, remove the whitish or blanched bottom portion of the stem, if present, for maximum solution uptake and life. Leaf removal will reduce vase life if enough flowers are not present for solution uptake. Flowers grown in cooler (55-60 degrees Fahrenheit) climates last longer than ones grown under warmer (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) conditions. Since alstroemeria is a member of the amaryllis family from which many pharmaceutical products are derived, it s not surprising that some humans get allergic dermatitis from this species. See page 166 of this manual for additional dermatitis information.

Botanical name: Alstroemeria spp.
Genus pronunciation: al-stre-MEE-ri-a
Common relatives: Onion, daffodil, agapanthus, nerine and kaffir lily, although in a different family.

Botanical fun facts: The Swedish Consul in Spain, Klas Alstroemer, had seeds of this species brought to Europe in 1754. The famous plant taxonomist Carl Linnaeus, a friend of Alstroemer, subsequently named the species after him.

Ethylene sensitive: It is ethylene sensitive.

Storage temperature (three days or fewer): 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit
Storage temperature (more than three days): 32-34 degrees Fahrenheit

Purchasing hints: At least one flower per stem should be open at time of purchase. Purchase only by cultivar name.

End-user life: 6 to 14 plus days (varies greatly by cultivar)

Special concerns: Special concerns: Ethylene-induced damages include transparent petals and flower fall. Cultivar-specific leaf yellowing is also a problem aggravated by some fresh-flower foods. It is easier to use cultivars that do not exhibit leaf yellowing than to have to treat them with anti-yellowing solutions, solutions that are often hard to locate. Grow and purchase cultivars that are less ethylene sensitive and less prone to leaf yellowing.

Care and Handling information is from the "Flower and Plant Care Manual", Written by George Staby, Ph.D., Used with the permission of publisher, The Society of American Florists, 1601 Duke St., Alexandria, VA. 22314-3406.