ESCAPE TO THE TROPICS

With most of the country enveloped in the heat of the summer, it feels like we are in the tropics, so why not take advantage of this feeling and showcase some beautiful tropical flowers for your feature of the week.

Tropical flowers are so unique in form, color and texture. These dynamos are not your grandmother’s garden variety of selections. They are bold, exciting and evoke dreams and memories of tropical paradise. They can be used visually and cost effectively with a little skill and practice.

Tropical flowers require a little different TLC than some other flowers. While they are generally strong and hardy, there are just as many that are delicate and dainty. Most tropical flowers are grown in warm climates with higher humidity than most flower shops have. Re-cutting the stem opens the vascular system and allows the flower to continue to drink. Many tropicals benefit from submerging the head to get a super saturation of moisture to the flower. Just remember to make sure the water drains out to prevent botrytis from occurring. Botrytis occurs when the water gets trapped in crevices and gets warm. It produces flower rot and will consume the flower quickly. Be sure to provide a bucket that will hold the flowers in place. Often time’s buckets with lily braces will work to hold the flowers upright.

When ready for design, again consider the weight factor. More often the flower’s weight is high on the stem and could easily cause the design to fall over (physical balance). Also the stems on many tropical flowers are quite substantial, so it is imperative to use quality floral foam that is dense in consistency. Many manufactures make deluxe foam for this purpose. When cutting the stem for insertion, using a chisel cut on the bottom of the stem will help ensure easy insertion into the floral foam and eliminate the stem fro rotating. A chisel cut is cutting the stem on an angle on one side and then rotating the stem half way and repeating the same cut on the opposite side to create a point or chisel cut. This is a good habit to use on other weighty flowers with thick stems such as gladiolus. Since the stems are so large, it is important to place the stem in only once and not remove it so there are not massive holes in the floral foam.

Since tropical flowers are mostly considered form flowers, it is important to use lots of negative space in your composition so each flowers character, color, and form can be appreciated by the viewer. Negative space is the space that surrounds an object where your eye is at rest. It is the void area around a positive object. A proper amount of negative space is as important in a composition as the positive space.

Since tropical flowers can be a bit pricier than some more common flowers, think about using them in combination with other flowers. Liatris, carnations, roses, and lilies are but a few that combine well with tropical flowers. Gone are the days of only keeping garden flowers with garden flowers and only tropical flowers used with other tropical flowers. A good guideline to remember is that form follows function. Be visually sensitive to the amount of color these flowers provide. Heliconia, Anthurium, ginger, and birds of paradise all are impactful because of their mass and color. Smaller flowers such as Dendrobium orchids, parakeet Heliconia and Oncidium orchids contribute color and texture. These flowers are often best used in groups to create more dramatic impact.

When choosing a tropical flower presentation, remember to marry the foliage with the flowers. Small, delicate foliages will not have the impact as tropical foliages would have. Delicate, small foliage will get overshadowed by the larger blooms. Also the scale of the foliage will look incorrect because of the larger flowers.

Tropical flowers often have a longer shelf life if cared for properly so the consumer will be able to enjoy them longer. They like water and higher humidity which is easily achieved by misting the blooms with water whenever possible.

What a great way to bring an affordable paradise to your customers! Try showcasing a different look for your customer to enjoy this summer season.