| Storage Temperature: 36-38F |
| Ethylene Sensitive: Yes, very sensitive.
Ethylene damage includes flower fall and transparent petals. |
| Description: Clusters of delicate, trumpet shaped
flowers on the end of short flower stalks that spray off of a single stem. |
| Colors: Purple, pink, dark pink, white, yellow,
red, orange, and rust. Most colors are freckled or streaked with contrasting colors. |
| Botanical Facts: The Swedish Consul in Spain, Klas
Alstroemer had seeds of this species brought to Europe in 1754. Carl Linnaeus, a
friend of Alstroemer, subsequently named the species after him. Alstroemeria is
native to the moutains of Peru and Bolivia. |
| Design Notes: With multiple blooms on the end of
each stem, Alstroemeria is a great flower to add more value to any arrangement. The
colors of Alstroemeria mix beautifully with Asiatic lilies. |
| Purchasing Hints: Purchanse when clusters
have one or two flowers open and other buds showing color. Stems and leaves
should be deep green. |
| Conditioning: Remove all of the foliage below
the water line of the vase and most foliage below the blossoms of the flower.
Note that their must be some leaves present for water uptake. Cut under water with a
sharp knife. Be sure to remove the whitish portion of the lower stem if it is
present. Hydrate in warm water for two hours before storage or usage. Use commercial
floral food / preservative. |
| Additional Notes: Alstroemeria can cause an
allergic dermatitis in some individuals. While this is not common and usually occurs after
extended exposure to a large volume of product, care should be exercised when handling
Alstroemeria. Anyone handling Alstroemeria should wash their hands with soap and
water after exposure. Individuals who prove to be sensitive to Alstroemeria should
handle the product with gloves. Always seek medical attention if an allergic reaction is
severe. Leaf yellowing can be a problem with certain cultivars of Alstroemeria and
is aggravated by floral preservative. Remove yellowing leaves and avoid cultivars
with leaves that yellow in future purchases. |
