Identify, check, condition and maintain fresh botanical materials for design and sale

This standard is about identifying, checking, conditioning and maintaining fresh botanical materials for design and sale. Fresh botanical materials include flowers, foliage and plants.

This standard will involve checking the fresh botanical material for evidence of pests, disease, damage or deterioration, as well as handling poisonous/irritant plant or flower material.

This standard also covers the care, conditioning and storing of a range of fresh botanical materials, as well as maintaining stock quality, stock levels and stock rotation with consideration for stock wastage.

When undertaking all work the impact on the environment must be considered.

All work will be carried out in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational procedures.

This standard is suitable for all Florists.

1. Select and prepare the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the conditioning of fresh botanical materials for design and sale
2. Identify Genus, species and cultivar when checking fresh botanical materials against an invoice/delivery note for incoming goods or against existing stock in the shop, to confirm that they are of the correct type, quantity and quality
3. Use a range of plant processes including photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, evaporation, osmosis, diffusion, etiolation and tropisms
4. Check and identify the fresh botanical materials for any evidence of pests, diseases, damage or deterioration and follow organisational procedures if there are identified problems
5. Use the relevant methods to unpack boxed, bunched and poisonous/irritant plant material, to maintain their condition for design and sale
6. Select and prepare suitable containers, where required, for the fresh botanical materials being conditioned and ensure the correct hygiene procedures are followed
7. Condition and store fresh botanical materials prioritised according to their care requirements
8. Follow manufacturers guidelines when using conditioning products to maintain the fresh botanical materials
9. Maintain storage conditions and cold storage areas, where necessary, to maintain the quality of fresh botanical materials
10. Identify and monitor botanical stock quality and levels with consideration for future business requirements
11. Dispose of waste materials in a sustainable way, following waste management systems, relevant legislation and the policies and procedures of the organisation
12. Maintain hygiene and bio-security in accordance with any relevant legislation and policies and procedures of the organisation
13. Carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and policies and procedures of the organisation

1. The types of tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the conditioning of the fresh botanical materials
2. The use of the correct botanical nomenclature and common names of the fresh botanical materials, including Genus, species and cultivar/variety
3. The supply chain of fresh botanical materials in the floristry industry
4. The natural seasonality of botanical materials and the current commercial availability
5. A range of plant processes including, photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, evaporation, osmosis, diffusion, etiolation and tropisms
6. How to check and identify for the presence of pests, diseases, damage or deterioration affecting the fresh botanical materials and the action to take if they are
7. The different methods to use when unpacking boxed, bunched or poisonous/irritant plant materials to maintain their condition for design and sale
8. The types of irritant and poisonous botanical materials and how they should be handled
9. How to select and prepare suitable containers, where required, for the fresh botanical materials being conditioned
10. How to condition and store fresh plant materials in an order sequence, prioritising materials according to their botanical care requirements
11. The different conditioning methods and their application relevant to particular botanical materials being worked on
12. The optimal environmental conditions for fresh botanical materials being worked on, including temperature, humidity, light, water and nutrients
13. How to maintain storage conditions and cold storage areas, where necessary, to maintain the quality of fresh botanical materials
14. The principles of stock rotation for fresh botanical materials
15. The post-harvest life of fresh botanical materials and how external factors can influence this
16. How to dispose of waste materials in a sustainable way, following any relevant legislation and the policies and procedures of the organisation
17. The importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security, and the methods for achieving these
18. The relevant legislation, organisational policies and procedures for environmental and health and safety issues

Condition and extensive range of fresh botanical material:

1. Foliage

2. Berries

3. Flowers
4. Grass

Condition fresh botanical materials for design and sale using the following conditioning equipment:

1. Scissors
2. Knives
3. Secateurs
4. Flower food
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
6. Containers

Fresh Botanical material: Plants, cut flowers, cut foliage. 

Nomenclature: How botanical materials are identified using their Genus, species and variety.

Senescence: The process of how botanical materials mature once cut.

Conditioning - Preparing fresh materials prior to use to ensure their longevity

Environmental conditions the material: light, humidity, temperature, wate and nutrients

Cold Storage:

• Cool room
• Flower cooler
• Cold area