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The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is the trusted source and catalyst for floriculture advancement through funding innovative research, scholarships, internships and education grants that best serve the dynamic needs and demographics of all industry sectors. Learn more at endowment.org. RECEIVE AND PROCESS ROSES CORRECTLY PROVIDE CARE INSTRUCTIONS AND FLOWER FOOD FOR RECIPIENTS AND CUSTOMERS KEEP DESIGN AREAS AND COOLERS CLEAN Roses need to recover from long shipments from the growers and transport on planes, ships and trucks. Here are some guidelines for processing. Don't overlook sanitation in your care and handling practices. Leaves, stems and other plant debris may contain Botrytis spores. STEP 2 STEP 4 STEP 3 2 Don't delay processing. Unbox the roses upon arrival in your store, and process them promptly. If, for some reason, it is not possible to process the roses at the time of arrival, place the flower boxes in a 35 F cooler. 2 Inspect roses for diseases and insects. 2 Remove plastic sleeves so the rose blooms do not remain in moisture- retaining plastic sleeves. 2 Remove leaves and petioles that will be underwater in storage containers. Removal of leaves by hand will be less damaging to the rose stems. 2 Remove 1½ to 2 inches of each stem with a clean, sharp knife or flower snips with bypass cutting blades. 2 Be sure all stems are cut. Uncut stems cannot absorb enough water needed by the flower to open fully. Current research suggests that underwater stem cutters should not be used. 2 Place roses with freshly cut stems into clean, sanitized storage containers with properly mixed rose-specific flower food solution made with cold water. 2 Do not reuse flower food solutions unless recommended by the manufacturer. 2 Place processed roses into a 35 F cooler promptly, and keep them there until design time. Then, immediately place completed arrangements back into a 35 F cooler until delivery time. NOTE: In cold regions, appropriately and adequately wrap rose arrangements to protect them from outdoor temperatures of 32 F or lower, and in warmer climates, deliver rose arrangements in a cool vehicle. 2 Remove plant debris from floors and design tables several times daily. 2 Vigorous sweeping may release spores into the air. Consider using a wet/dry vacuum for removing leaves and petals from the design room and cooler floors. 2 Wipe off design tables with an anti- microbial cleaning solution several times daily. 2 Mop floors, including the cooler, with an anti-microbial cleaning solution at the end of each day. 2 Include flower food packets with each rose arrangement and bouquet sold— as many as required to enable recipients to refill and/or change the vase solution every other day or so. 2 Include care instructions with each arrangement and bouquet sold.

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