Valentine's Day Flowers

Amy Timmerman, Extension Educator Author

03/11/2025 Added

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Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and our local florists are getting ready for their busiest time of the year.

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[00:00:01.020]This week’s Extension Update from Amy Timmerman,
[00:00:04.000]Cropping and Water Educator.
[00:00:06.140]Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and our local florists
[00:00:09.400]are getting ready for their busiest time of the year.
[00:00:13.400]Thus, I wanted to share some information regarding
[00:00:16.180]the beautiful flowers we are seeing
[00:00:18.720]along with steps to increase the days we get to enjoy them.
[00:00:21.820]In 2018, The Society of American Florists estimated that
[00:00:27.540]250 million cut roses were produced for Valentine’s Day
[00:00:32.500]and an estimated 35% of Americans purchased flowers.
[00:00:36.920]While we might complain about their cost, many consumers
[00:00:40.049]never stop to think about the complex global production and
[00:00:43.760]distribution systems that allow for quality cut flowers to be sold
[00:00:48.600]here in Nebraska during the middle of winter.
[00:00:51.880]The Netherlands leads the world in cut flower exports
[00:00:55.260]with a 52% share of the global market.
[00:00:59.140]Columbia comes in with 15%, Ecuador 9%, Kenya 7%
[00:01:05.234]and Belgium 3% round out the top five cut flower exporting countries.
[00:01:11.210]Most roses imported into the United States come from
[00:01:15.210]Columbia and Ecuador due to a favorable climate,
[00:01:18.820]inexpensive labor source and limited import regulations.
[00:01:23.899]Roses in Columbia and Ecuador are grown in unheated hoop houses.
[00:01:28.819]There are approximately 20,000 and 11,000 acres
[00:01:32.819]under cover in Columbia and Ecuador, respectively.
[00:01:37.316]The long, warm days and cool nights along with fertile soils found in the Andes
[00:01:42.816]contribute to the superior quality of South American roses.
[00:01:47.226]Rose production there relies on large amounts of
[00:01:50.146]low cost hand labor to cultivate and harvest roses.
[00:01:54.406]In recent years, several producers have begun using
[00:01:57.806]sustainable, socially responsible, eco-friendly or certified organic
[00:02:02.406]production practices in an effort to distinguish their product
[00:02:06.406]on the market and command a premium price.
[00:02:10.646]The Netherlands takes a different approach to rose production
[00:02:13.526]using technologically advanced controlled environments and automation.
[00:02:18.885]Laborers cut flowers and place them on a hooked conveyer belt.
[00:02:23.065]From there roses are graded by electronic eyes, and sorted
[00:02:25.665]and processed by machines, with minimal human labor.
[00:02:29.360]Cut flowers entering the U.S. from
[00:02:31.782]South American typically arrive in Miami, Florida.
[00:02:35.145]During the peak season between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14,
[00:02:39.685]nearly one billion floral stems will travel through the
[00:02:43.145]Miami International Airport, with over 30 cargo planes arriving daily.
[00:02:48.705]There, cut flowers are inspected by U.S. Customs
[00:02:51.860]and Border Protection for insect pests and diseases.
[00:02:55.120]They are then transported to wholesalers,
[00:02:57.500]re-wholesalers and retailers using refrigerated
[00:03:00.200]transportation to maintain their quality and shelf life.
[00:03:04.240]The supply chain for distributing roses allows cut roses to travel
[00:03:08.240]from farms in Ecuador and Colombia to Eastern U.S. markets
[00:03:12.240]in less time than roses grown in California.
[00:03:14.960]Once these flowers arrive in your home,
[00:03:18.360]there are several things that you can do to prolong their vase life.
[00:03:22.200]Begin with a clean vase.
[00:03:24.340]Wash previously used containers with hot, soapy water
[00:03:27.300]to remove debris and destroy bacteria and fungi
[00:03:29.980]that may shorten the life of cut flowers.
[00:03:33.080]Remove all foliage that will be below the water line in the vase.
[00:03:37.174]Submerged plant foliage may decay and shorten the life of the flowers.
[00:03:40.454]To promote water uptake, cut off the bottom
[00:03:43.403]½ to 1 inch of the stems with a sharp knife
[00:03:47.603]Immediately place the cut flowers in a vase full of water.
[00:03:50.960]Add a commercial floral preservative
[00:03:53.560]to the water to prolong the life of the flowers.
[00:03:56.763]Place the cut flowers in a cool, brightly lit location in the office or home.
[00:04:02.003]Keep the flowers away from heat sources and drafts.
[00:04:05.139]Check the water level daily and add water when necessary.
[00:04:08.839]Completely change the water if it becomes cloudy
[00:04:11.519]or begins to produce a discernible odor.
[00:04:14.999]Please remember that Valentine’s Day is not a day just to celebrate love.
[00:04:19.419]It is also a day to celebrate friendships.
[00:04:22.580]A quote from Marcel Proust “Let us be grateful to the people who make
[00:04:25.840]us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
[00:04:30.660]Happy Valentine’s Day.
[00:04:32.700]This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.

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