Florist News

Hi everyone,

Still working away at first shop order. One of most expensive items is flower food. Am looking at Chrysal clear prof 2 at £36. Is it worth the extra pennies when I can get a tub of normal stuff for £10.45. Only want to check as I am a sucker for reading the blurb and believing it. ( especially if its shampoo)

Thanks alot

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Newgirl

At this stage of the game you need to strike a happy medium. If you try and do everything that's 'good for business' you may well be 'out of business' in no time at all. It would be financially impossible to comply with all the rules and regulations and do all the things that can make a difference to the life of the flowers. Do what you can and do what you can afford to do. As time goes on you can decide which things are necessary and important enough to spend your money on. That's not to say that flower food is not important, of course it is, but i don't think you'll find your flowers dying all around you if you don't use the expensive stuff. It's probably more important to keep everything clean and that only costs you time.

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Very true words of wisdom,cleanliness is paramount and does indeed cost nought but time..tried to give you some more rep for this post as the advice is honest and good,but apparently iv'e got to spread it around first.....so here goes i think you are all great!!!!(job done!!!)

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seldom rong!!!!

Only thing i would say is that "be careful" using the "normal Stuff" if u are referring to the powder that should be supplied to the customer because that feeds the flowers which will speed up the Bloom time, u r better off not "feeding" them in the shop...... The prof 2 does not feed the flower, if anything it holds them back and keeps the water clean and free from bacteria.

Def agree with fly. (although ive allways raved about chrysal food,) in the beginning when money is tight.......

WASH YOUR VASE'S LAZY

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Couldn't agree more!!!! I try to have a bucket of water with flower food in to use for aqua hand ties as I make them but my daily stuff just goes in clean water. I'm a freak for clean buckets ...... nothing fresh goes in until it's been cleaned. I just use normal unscented bleach ...... I say "if you wouldn't drink out of it don't put flowers in it!"

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I still believe that you should use the prof 2, but only when u can justify the cost of purchase against wastage.... it def. reduces wastage and i would never be without it..... We used to have to wash our vases twice weekly, but ever since using the prof 2 we only wash once, so if u have staff then that alone will pay for the prof 2... ....

Mind u im a chrysal addict... have flower food for every occasion , even use the RVB solution for my roses in cold storage.....

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It's such a learning curve - setting up a florists and I have to agree with Fly. Chrysal is not an essetial part of your business at present. Concentrate on using clean vases with fresh water. If you don't have a daily turnover of flowers then condition them at least every other day. Clean the buckets with fresh clean water with the tiniest drop of bleach and you will be fine. Also buy the freshest flowers possible.

The main priority is getting shop the way you want it and letting the general public know you are there!!

Once people are in the shop and buying then consider whether Chrysal is worth the money. Start with the smallest amount possible and do a comparison test then make a decision.

Hope all is going well.

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LilyLady

Happiness is Petal Shaped


Lily's Floral Design

I agree with all thats been said before - bleach is as effective at keeping bacteria down as flower food, and as you don't want them to open too fast no point in feeding them! I give out flower food with purchases but rarely use it in the shop as the main ingredient, I am told, is actually more of an anti-fungal than food, and cleanliness works just as well!

It makes sense if you think about it. Perhaps just not like I've written it!

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If we had been meant to eat all our greens all our teeth would have been in the front

Genista, the professional 2 is exactly what u said, anti fungal amongst other things... it also encourages water uptake,,, so you can start selling stock only after a couple of hours if they have come in dry packed, it does carry a small amount of food... (very small approx 30 %)

Any chrysal reps out there......

GIS A JOB !

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I will just add, dont put flower food in zinc buckets if you are going to use them. I ruined a load if them when I started out! If you are going to use zinc get plastic liners! Cheaper in the long run.