Spray roses have all the beauty of a standard rose yet are much smaller, with multiple blooms per stem. This makes them one of the most popular and versatile cut flowers. Plus, a mix of flower opening stages on one stem adds to the visual interest of spray roses. As with all roses, it’s vital to properly care for and handle spray roses from shop arrival to customer delivery. Use these tips to optimize the health and longevity of your spray roses.

• The #1 rule for great care and handling is to buy quality spray roses like Baby Rio Spray Roses. Proper care and handling will optimize the potential performance of a spray rose.
• Test your water pH, alkalinity, TDS, and hardness.
• Look for a hydration solution that suits your needs.

• The single biggest factor in the longevity of spray roses is consistent, cold temperature. Ensure proper Cold Chain Management when transporting Baby Rio Spray Roses to your location.
• Cold Chain Management ensures Baby Rio Spray Roses are transported from Miami to your location in a controlled cold environment. Only refrigerated trucks, not overnight carriers like FedEx or UPS, can keep the temperature consistent.

• Cooler temperature should be 33–37°F. Flowers stored at 40°F or above will deteriorate two to three times faster than flowers stored at 36°F.
• The humidity level should be 80% or above, especially if the flowers are not in a hydration solution.
• If possible, test for excess build-out of ethylene gas.

• Inspect your Baby Rio Spray Roses upon arrival. If you receive damaged or unusable spray roses, immediately notify your wholesaler and/or Equiflor.
• Please have the box labels handy. They contain important information about the farm and airway bill that will help us identify and correct the problem.

• Start with clean buckets. Bacteria in dirty buckets will clog the spray rose’s vascular system and prevent good uptake of the food solution.
• Bleach is not your best cleaning agent as it kills bacteria immediately, but its shelf life is only one to four hours, so it won’t continue to kill bacteria.
• Clean your cooler with a cleaning detergent at least once every quarter (three months). Clean the floor, walls, ceiling, and cooler coils.

• Determine the solution you will use. You can choose from holding solutions or sugar-based solutions to promote opening.
• Add hydration solution to cold water. If cold water is not available, we recommend preparing the solution and placing the buckets with the solution inside the cooler the evening before.
• Strip only the foliage that will fall below the solution level.
• Cut at least a half inch off the bottom of each stem/bunch. Whenever possible, we recommend cutting spray roses underwater.
• Place spray roses immediately into the cold-water hydration solution. Quick Dip is not a long-term hydration solution. Once in the hydration solution, move the spray roses to the cooler.

• Choose the food solution that best fits your shop’s needs. If you move your spray roses quickly, you won’t need a holding solution. If you hold them for a few days, you may need a holding solution.
• Use a holding solution for Baby Rio Spray Roses coming into your shop and a sugar-based solution for everything leaving your shop.

• Teach your staff to educate customers on caring for their spray roses, including what to expect from individual varieties.
• Recommend short- and long-term hydration solutions to your customers.

Caring for spray roses will ensure they provide beauty to your customers for as long as possible. By following this guide, you can quickly assess the condition of your spray roses upon arrival, take immediate steps to address any issues and maintain their quality and longevity.