about flowers

STOCK

Matthida

With all the natural charm of an English country garden, the bountiful blooms of stock have an enticing spicy-sweet fragrance. Double or single flower spikes are surrounded by slender silver-green foliage and hold a mass of brightly colored blossoms in white, cream, pale peach, lavender, rosy magenta and deep violet. The vase life is approximately 6 to 7 days.

Available: Year-round.

Pack: 10 stems per bunch, 15 bunches per half box. Boxes come in solid and assorted colors.

Care & Handling:

1. Unpack and inspect flowers upon arrival.
2. Strip off lower 1/3 of foliage as it tends to yellow prematurely. Cut 1" - 2" off stem ends with sharp knife or flower cutters.
3. Place bunches in a bucket loosely so they can air out, in 4" - 5" of preservative solution made with warm water (100°-110°F).
4. Store outside of cooler for 1-3 hours to allow water to move up the stem into the bloom tissues. Flowers may be displayed in or out of the cooler, but store in cooler after business hours.
5. Stock tends to foul the water rapidly and bacteria can impede water uptake. Change often!
6. Stock is very sensitive to ethylene. Stock is treated with ST8 at the farm. Keep away from all external sources of ethylene, such as fruit, carbon monoxide and decaying plant material.

Design Suggestions:

1. Single stem stock is excellent for bouquets. Use double stem stock as a focal flower or accent in arrangements.
2. Mix with other "garden-type" flowers like roses, iris, lilies and poms.
3. Try using in a monochromatic theme with roses, poms, liatris, statice, etc.

Merchandising Tips:

1. Merchandise as either a filler or accent flower. Display with other garden flowers in a mass display. Excellent for spring themes such as Easter, Secretary's Week and Mother's Day.