I finally understood why my centerpieces wilted so fast at the summer fair

For years, I would make all my arrangements in the cool shop and then load them into my warm van for delivery. At the Oakwood Fair last July, my hydrangea pieces looked sad within two hours. A judge, who is also a grower, told me, 'You're shocking them with a thirty degree temperature change.' Now, I condition everything in a room set to the outdoor temp for a full day before an event. Has anyone else had to adjust their prep for extreme weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige_robinson243d ago

Oh wow, that makes total sense. I never would have thought about the temperature shock. It's like when you bring a plant home from the store and it freaks out. Your fix is really smart, letting them get used to it slowly.

wright.leo3d ago

Yeah, plants are such drama queens about moving.

eric_adams112d agoTop Commenter

Okay but "temperature shock" is only part of it, right? The light levels are totally different in your house versus a bright store or greenhouse. They're not being dramatic, they're just confused because their whole world changed. Moving them to a shady spot first helps them get used to the lower light without getting burned. It's more about giving them time to adjust to everything being new.