Shoutout to the grower who told me to try a different rose food

I was at the flower market in Seattle about six months ago and got talking to a rose grower from Eastern Washington. He looked at my order and said, 'You're still using that blue powder stuff on your cut roses, aren't you?' I was, and he told me to switch to a specific brand called 'Floralife Express' for the first 24 hours in the bucket, then go back to my usual. I mean, I was skeptical, but I bought a small pack. The difference was crazy. My red 'Freedom' roses, which usually start to droop a bit on day three, stayed perfectly upright for a full five days last week. I guess the initial shock treatment really does something. Has anyone else had a specific product tip from a grower that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.charlie2mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my orchid guy.

xenar142mo ago

Got a question about the switch back to your usual food. Do you use the same amount of the blue powder after that first day with the Express, or do you have to cut the dose? I'm wondering if the initial treatment changes how they take up nutrients later on.

kevin_bailey25d ago

The blue powder stuff is pretty strong, so cutting the dose back by about a quarter after that first 24 hour shock treatment might be worth trying. In my experience, once those stems have taken up the Express, their whole system is just more open and ready for nutrients, so they don't need as much of the regular stuff to stay happy. That initial dose sort of wakes them up and clears the pipes, if you will. Your mileage may vary, but I've found a lighter touch on the second phase keeps things balanced without oversaturating them.