CFD Floral Care & Maintenance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of using floral foam (oasis) in wet arrangements?
- To add structural weight to the container
- To continuously supply water and support stem placement (Correct answer)
- To sterilize the water and prevent bacterial growth
- To lower the pH of the arrangement water
Correct answer: To continuously supply water and support stem placement
Wet floral foam holds water like a sponge and physically anchors stems, providing both hydration and mechanical support for arrangements.
Question 2: When soaking floral foam before use, which method is recommended to avoid air pockets that reduce water retention?
- Press the foam forcefully underwater
- Allow the foam to float and sink naturally in a deep container (Correct answer)
- Microwave the foam with water for 30 seconds
- Soak only the bottom half of the foam block
Correct answer: Allow the foam to float and sink naturally in a deep container
Allowing foam to sink at its own rate (passive soaking) lets water displace air uniformly, preventing dry air pockets inside the block.
Question 3: Which of the following flowers should NOT be stored with ethylene-sensitive blooms because it produces significant amounts of ethylene gas?
- Chrysanthemums
- Gypsophila (baby's breath) (Correct answer)
- Stargazer lilies
- Waxflower
Correct answer: Gypsophila (baby's breath)
Gypsophila is a known ethylene producer; storing it near ethylene-sensitive flowers like carnations or roses accelerates their senescence.
Question 4: A client complains that delivered roses opened too quickly and wilted within two days. Which storage error most likely caused this?
- Flowers were stored at too low a temperature (34–36°F)
- Flowers were stored at too high a temperature (50–60°F) (Correct answer)
- Flowers were stored in the dark without light
- Flowers were given too much preservative
Correct answer: Flowers were stored at too high a temperature (50–60°F)
Roses stored at temperatures above the ideal 34–38°F range respire faster, open prematurely, and have significantly shorter vase life.
Question 5: What does the term 'hardening' mean in the context of floral care?
- Treating stems with a chemical hardening agent to prevent wilting
- Allowing conditioned flowers to rest in a cooler after initial water uptake (Correct answer)
- Removing all thorns and foliage from a stem
- Freezing flowers briefly to extend their vase life
Correct answer: Allowing conditioned flowers to rest in a cooler after initial water uptake
Hardening refers to the post-conditioning rest period in a cooler where flowers fully hydrate and turgidity is restored before arrangement.
Question 6: Silver thiosulfate (STS) is used as a pre-treatment for cut flowers primarily to:
- Increase water uptake speed
- Block ethylene receptors and extend vase life (Correct answer)
- Lower water pH to reduce bacterial growth
- Provide carbohydrate nutrition to flowers
Correct answer: Block ethylene receptors and extend vase life
STS binds to ethylene receptors on flower cells, preventing ethylene from triggering senescence and dramatically extending vase life in sensitive flowers.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly describes the proper angle for cutting flower stems to maximize water uptake?
- Straight horizontal cut (90°) to maximize surface area at the base
- 45-degree diagonal cut to expose more xylem vessels and prevent stem sitting flat (Correct answer)
- Spiral cut to create multiple entry points for water
- V-shaped notch cut for maximum flow
Correct answer: 45-degree diagonal cut to expose more xylem vessels and prevent stem sitting flat
A 45-degree cut increases the exposed xylem surface area and prevents the stem end from sitting flush against the container bottom, allowing unobstructed water flow.
CFD Floral Care & Maintenance 3
What is the primary purpose of using floral foam (oasis) in wet arrangements?