Petal drop ruined my big wedding order last Saturday

I had 12 centerpieces ready for a wedding in Austin and the peonies just started dropping petals an hour before pickup. Turned out the blooms were way past their prime from the wholesaler. Any tips on how to check flower freshness before taking a big order like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

miles7981mo ago

Hate to say it but this sounds like a you problem more than a wholesaler problem. Peonies drop petals fast especially if you cut them too early or let them sit around too long before the event. You should've checked the buds a few days beforehand. Give them a gentle squeeze if they feel soft or mushy they're already dying. Also try the stem test if the water looks cloudy or slimy in the bucket don't buy them at all. Wholesalers move a ton of stock you gotta know what you're picking up or you're just asking for trouble.

jasons631mo ago

Hold up, gotta say something here. The stem test is a good trick but you're off about the cloudy water part. Cloudy or slimy water can mean bacteria buildup, but sometimes fresh cut stems bleed sap into the water and make it look weird. That's not always a death sentence, just means they need a clean bucket and some flower food. Also, squeezing peony buds too hard before they're open can bruise them. You're better off checking the stems for mushiness or black spots near the base. That's the real tell.