CFD Floral Care & Maintenance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which chemical compound is most commonly added to floral preservative solutions to lower the pH of water and improve stem hydration?
- Sodium hypochlorite
- Citric acid (Correct answer)
- Potassium permanganate
- Hydrogen peroxide
Correct answer: Citric acid
Citric acid is the primary acidifier in commercial floral preservatives, lowering water pH to around 3.5–4.5 for optimal stem uptake.
Question 2: What is the recommended water temperature when conditioning tropical flowers such as anthuriums and birds of paradise?
- Ice-cold water (32–40°F)
- Cool water (45–55°F)
- Room-temperature water (65–75°F) (Correct answer)
- Warm water (100–110°F)
Correct answer: Room-temperature water (65–75°F)
Tropical flowers are chilling-sensitive and should be conditioned in room-temperature water to prevent petal damage.
Question 3: A designer notices that tulips in a vase are growing taller and bending toward the light after arrangement. What is the best corrective action?
- Remove the tulips immediately
- Wrap stems tightly with wire to hold them straight
- Re-cut stems and store in a cool, dark cooler (Correct answer)
- Add extra sugar to the water
Correct answer: Re-cut stems and store in a cool, dark cooler
Tulips continue to grow and exhibit phototropism; re-cutting and storing in a cool, dark environment slows growth and reduces bending.
Question 4: Which type of bacteria most commonly blocks the xylem vessels of cut flowers, reducing water uptake?
- Anaerobic sulfur bacteria
- Gram-positive cocci
- Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria (Correct answer)
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Correct answer: Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria
Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria are the primary culprits in stem-end blockage, thriving in vase water and multiplying rapidly.
Question 5: How far up the stem should foliage be removed before placing flowers in water?
- Only the bottom leaf
- All foliage below the water line (Correct answer)
- Half of all leaves on the stem
- No foliage needs to be removed
Correct answer: All foliage below the water line
Submerged foliage decomposes quickly, feeding bacterial growth and fouling the water, so all leaves below the waterline must be stripped.
Question 6: Which preservative ingredient provides the carbohydrate energy source that helps flowers continue to open after harvest?
- Aluminum sulfate
- 8-HQC
- Sucrose (Correct answer)
- Silver thiosulfate
Correct answer: Sucrose
Sucrose (sugar) serves as the food source in preservative solutions, supplying energy for continued petal development and color expression.
Question 7: A designer is working with poppies (Papaver spp.) that are wilting despite fresh water. What specialty conditioning technique should be used?
- Submerge entire stem in warm water overnight
- Sear the cut stem end over an open flame or in boiling water (Correct answer)
- Place stems in ice water for 24 hours
- Add extra bleach to the vase water
Correct answer: Sear the cut stem end over an open flame or in boiling water
Poppies produce a milky latex sap that seals cut ends; searing or dipping in boiling water for a few seconds stops the flow and allows water uptake.
CFD Floral Care & Maintenance 2
Which chemical compound is most commonly added to floral preservative solutions to lower the pH of water and improve stem hydration?