Floral Coolers: Enhancing Flower Longevity and Business Efficiency

Maintaining the visual appeal and freshness of flowers is paramount in the floral industry. Whether you operate a blooming enterprise, flower shop, or just love having fresh flowers at home, understanding floral coolers is crucial to your success and satisfaction. In this extensive guide, we delve into floral coolers, their significance, functionality, and benefits to florists and flower businesses.

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Introduction: What are Floral Coolers?

Floral coolers, also known as flower coolers or floral refrigerators, play a critical role in the flower industry. They are specially designed refrigeration units that maintain flowers at optimal storage temperatures, significantly prolonging the beauty of blooms and extending flower life. The principle behind floral coolers lies in maintaining specific temperatures and humidity levels suited to various flower types.

Unlike regular refrigeration units, floral coolers offer precise climate regulation, ensuring flowers remain fresh, vibrant, and fragrant. As a result, businesses investing in high-quality floral storage enjoy improved customer satisfaction, increased sales, and a competitive edge in the market.

Key Features of a Floral Cooler

Temperature Ranges

Flowers are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can affect their longevity and appearance. Maintaining an optimal temperature range is crucial. Floral coolers are designed with advanced temperature control settings to regulate the climate based on specific flower needs. Here’s a brief table showcasing the ideal temperatures for various flowers:

By adhering to these optimal temperatures, floral coolers prevent chill damage and promote flower freshness.

Humidity Control

Humidity regulation plays an essential role in flower preservation. Floral coolers are equipped with humidity management technologies, ensuring moisture control remains consistent. Flowers require specific humidity levels to maintain their hydration, which in turn prolongs their lifespan. With climate settings that regulate moisture, floral coolers prevent drying and wilting.

Benefits of Humidity Control in Floral Coolers:

• Moisture retention enhances blooming longevity.
• Prevents dehydration and wilting.
• Protects delicate petals and leaves from damage.

Shelving and Storage Design

The organization within a floral cooler is vital for optimizing storage efficiency and preserving flower quality. Floral coolers often feature customizable shelving and storage arrangements, allowing for flexible flower arrangement displays. Adjustable racks and display shelving facilitate adaptability, accommodating different floral compositions.

Shelving Design Features:

• Customizable layouts for diverse flower types.
• Materials ensuring minimal damage to petals and stems.
• Efficient storage organization for easy access and display.

Air Circulation

Proper air circulation is crucial in floral coolers. Consistent airflow prevents mold growth and maintains flower freshness. Ventilation systems within the cooler promote even distribution of temperature and humidity, reducing the risk of temperature fluctuations that could harm the flowers.

Air Circulation Advantages:

• Promotes flower freshness by preventing mold.
• Ensures even temperature distribution.
• Reduces chill damage risks and conserves energy.

The Importance of Floral Coolers in the Business

Customer Satisfaction

For florists and flower businesses, customer satisfaction is vital. Fresh, vibrant flowers leave a lasting impression on customers, encouraging repeat business and positive feedback. By investing in high-quality floral coolers, businesses ensure their floral products remain fresh, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Repeat Business and Word-of-Mouth

Maintaining fresh and appealing floral products encourages repeat business and earns positive word-of-mouth recommendations. When customers receive flowers that last long and remain beautiful, they are likely to return for future purchases and recommend the florist to friends and family.

Cost Efficiency

Floral coolers contribute to cost efficiency in several ways:

• Reduced Waste: By keeping flowers fresh for longer, the incidence of spoilage and waste is minimized.
• Energy Efficiency: Advanced floral coolers are designed to be energy-efficient, reducing operational costs.
• Increased Sales: Fresh flowers attract more customers, boosting sales and profitability.

Floral Cooler vs. Beverage Cooler

While floral coolers and beverage coolers serve the purpose of refrigeration, they are designed specifically for different contents and conditions.

Temperature and Humidity Differences

Floral coolers require more precise temperature and humidity settings than beverage coolers. Flowers need specific conditions to thrive, whereas beverages do not demand such controlled environments. Floral coolers maintain higher humidity levels to ensure flower hydration, while beverage coolers prioritize temperature maintenance.

Design and Functionality

Floral coolers come with design features suited for storing flowers, including adjustable shelving and adequate ventilation. Beverage coolers, on the other hand, focus on storing cans and bottles, with less emphasis on even airflow and humidity management.

Cost and Energy Efficiency

Floral coolers may present a higher upfront cost due to their advanced features. However, their energy-efficient designs can result in long-term savings. Beverage coolers might be more affordable initially, but they lack the specific features necessary for storing delicate flowers.

Maintenance and Longevity

Proper maintenance is crucial for the longevity of any refrigeration unit. Floral coolers may require more frequent maintenance due to their complex components, but their specialized design ensures extended flower freshness. Beverage coolers typically need less maintenance but may not offer the same lifespan for floral storage.

Choosing the Right Floral Cooler for Your Business

When selecting a floral cooler for your business, consider the following factors to ensure it aligns with your needs and enhances your business operations.

Self-Serve Coolers

Self-serve coolers come in various designs, including sliding doors, swinging doors, and open-air models. These coolers cater to different business setups and customer needs.

Pros & Cons Table:

Storage Cooler Size

The cooler’s size is a critical consideration, dictated by space availability and storage requirements. Ensure the cooler accommodates diverse floral arrangements while fitting seamlessly within your shop’s layout.

Customizable Settings

Customizing the cooler’s settings to match various flower types and climatic needs is essential. Advanced digital controls offer easy adjustments, allowing you to tailor the cooler’s environment.

Installation and Maintenance Considerations

Proper installation and regular maintenance extend the lifespan of your floral cooler. Choose a reputable company with a track record of excellent service and warranty offers. Scheduled maintenance ensures the unit operates efficiently and without interruptions.

Advanced Floral Technology and Innovations

Modern Technologies

Recent advancements in floral refrigeration technologies have transformed the way flowers are stored and preserved. Features such as digital climate controls, LED display lighting, and automated humidity settings enhance the efficiency and sophistication of floral coolers.

The Future of Floral Refrigeration

With ongoing technological advancements, the future of floral refrigeration looks promising. Innovations may include integration with smart systems, remote temperature monitoring, and intelligent climate adaptation, ensuring the utmost preservation of flowers.

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Conclusion

Investing in a floral cooler is a strategic move for any florist or flower business. Understanding the nuances of floral refrigeration not only enhances the longevity and freshness of flowers but also promotes business growth through increased customer satisfaction and reduced operational costs.

Choosing the right floral cooler requires evaluating factors such as temperature and humidity settings, shelf and storage design, and advanced technological features. As the future of floral refrigeration evolves, embracing new technologies will ensure continued success in the vibrant and competitive flower industry.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING THINGS COOL

By Andrew Joseph

The first clue we at Florists’ Review can give to those examining the concept of adding a cooler unit for their flower businesses—it’s right there in the headline: “Flower.”It can be a flower display refrigerator or a walk-in flower cooler display unit—each performing the same function of displaying and keeping cut flowers looking fresh, but each providing florists with options depending on finances and space availability.Despite the temptations to pick up something cheap and simple spotted at an auction or some online used-goods site,refrigeration for one’s flower business is a complicated matter and should be treated as such or the old pros who already have their own perfect cooling systems in place—good for you, but keep reading. We are going to explain the five “W”s of refrigeration and how a flower refrigerator is different from other types of coolers—and why you need one specific to the profession. (Actually, we won’t deal with “Who” specifically to purchase from because we leave that decision to you—so really, there are only four “W”s.) However, we will provide some intel on how standard refrigeration units work, in an effort to educate. It’s always better to have some knowledge of the subject before blindly shelling out money for maintenance and repairs because you don’t care. You should always care. And, keeping in line with “the more you know”-style PSA (public service announcement), we’re also going to examine some of the latest affordable technology available in the flower refrigeration segment

ABC: Always Be Cooling

THE WHY

Here’s a sobering fact: the cut flowers you sell are dead—only they don’t know it quite yet. Cut flowers are the lifeblood of the flower industry, but when they arrive at your shop, they have a limited shelf life and must be sold relatively quickly,or you risk losing the money invested in their purchase.The higher the surrounding temperature,the quicker a cut flower “breathes” and releases moisture. This dehydrates the flower, resulting in wilting, stem sag, petals that won’t open and petal edges that brown—creating an unloved and unsold flower.Refrigeration—i.e.,low temperatures—retard the aging process of cut flowers. Optimally, to achieve the maximum shelflife for nontropical cut flowers in your store, a refrigeration system requires a chilling temperature range of 33 F to 36 F.

No, wait, it’s 33 F to 35 F, or is it 34 F to 37F? It’s definitely in the low to mid-30s. Oris it in the low 40s? Th ere is all kinds of“expert” information out there.Th e truth is, the optimal storage temperature for cut flowers depends on the type of flower—and the condition of the flower when you purchased it from the wholesaler or grower. Additionally,the brand of flower refrigeration unit can play a part in determining the optimal range. For example,Wayne Laue owner of Flot-Aire Floral Refrigerators in Rolla, Mo., says that for his flower cooling units, he has always recommended flower storage temperatures between 38 F and 42 F.

Perhaps the safest thing to state is that the optimal temperature requirements for flowers will vary depending on the type of flower. For most flowers, a temperature range between 33 F and 42 F is a rule of thumb—although much research shows that for most nontropical flowers, temperatures above 38 F are too high. However, for flowers that are sensitive to cold, like tropical flowers, temperatures slightly above 50 F will be called for. Aside from temperature, maintaining cut flower health is highly dependent on humidity levels in a floral cooler, as well. Using a proper floral cooler is crucially important to the length of time a flower holds its beauty, says Lauer. “A proper flower cooler will hold a flower for weeks, as long as the flower was fresh when initially placed inside.”

Flower Cooler Specifics

THE WHAT

When is a cooling unit for flowers not a floral cooling unit? When it’s not a floral cooling unit. For those thinking about using an inexpensive but cool-looking refrigeration system not specifically designated for cut flowers—don’t. As mentioned, it’s not just about keeping flowers cool.

Unlike a pop/soda cooler in a convenience store or a household fridge, a flower refrigerator—regardless of make or model—is designed to gently circulate cooled air to avoid damaging the flowers. A beverage cooler, for example jets out cold blasts of air. Most important, however, a floral cooler offers the much-needed humidity factor. With an applied ambient humidity ranging from 80 percent to 95 percent, a flower cooling unit slows cut flower dehydration, resulting in longer-lasting flowers. Why the 15 percent variance in humidity? Again, it depends on the type of cut flowers one is storing. You want moist air—not dry air—inside the refrigerator, but, if you see water droplets forming on petals and/or foliage, the humidity is too high. Beverage coolers are designed to generate low humidity levels. Because cut flowers need high humidity, your inventory will likely die three to five days sooner when stored in a refrigerator not designed specifically for cut flowers.

Last, but not least, there’s also ethylene management. Ethylene is a gas produced by some—not all—cut flowers, as well as fruits and vehicle exhaust, among other things. It can cause rapid aging of cut flowers as well as petal and leaf loss. While lower temperatures and proper ventilation can both aid in the reduction of ethylene production, air exchange via the opening and closing of a cooler’s door can also mitigate the effects of ethylene. To reiterate, cut flowers need to low temperatures, high humidity levels and gently circulating air, and these things can be achieved only via the use of a true flower cooler.

Location, Location

THE WHERE

In real estate, a common adage is “location, location, location,” and the same holds true within your flower shop’s real estate. Even though many florists put little thought into where in a shop a floral cooler is placed, it does matter. It’s a no-brainer that we want a floral shop to not only look aesthetically pleasing inside and out but also function perfectly. We have to consider material factors, such as the need for the cooler to be in an easy-to-access part of the shop for both employees and customers. Should it also be located in a spot where it can capture the eye of someone walking past your shop? Or, because you already have a great window display, can the cooler capture attention elsewhere? And shouldn’t it also be dependent on electrical outlet placements?

What you don’t want, however, is to place your flower cooler in direct sunlight. Energy usage is the critical factor here. In a sunnier and, thus, warmer location, a flower refrigerator cooling unit will need to consume more energy to maintain its interior coolness and humidity levels, which means higher electrical bills and, quite possible, a shorter life for the cooler—or, at least, some of its parts. A flower refrigerator placed in direct sunlight will utilize 70 percent more energy than one placed in “shadier” locations.

The Art of Cool

THE HOW

How does a floral cooler work? “With the refrigeration of flowers, evaporators are sized to provide optimal low air movement—centered on the cooler’s ceiling to evenly distribute the air,” Lauer explains. “Plug-in display-type coolers employ evaporators that blow the air gently down the inside back wall of the cooler. The other key specific to proper cut flower storage is maintaining a high humidity level.” Lauer says that Flot-Aire provides oversized low-air evaporators that are specifically designed to maintain high humidity levels. Finally, Lauer also points out Flot-Aire’s condensing units are engineered for heavy usage applications. Another factor that manufacturers of cut flower coolers give special consideration to is insulation, Lauer mentions, which can range from inside the walls of the coolers to the types of doors, windows and seals used—and can also involve lighting inside the cooler.

“Fluorescent lights are a thing of the past,” Lauer notes. “Bright LED (light- emitting diode) lights are usually utilized in floral coolers today. A low-radiation, full spectrum LED lighting system will showcase flowers’ natural colors.”

There is nothing wrong with purchasing a used floral cooling unit—as long as it’s not too old. But Lauer makes a strong point for purchasing new as a better option: energy efficiency. “From an energy perspective, today’s compressors, fan motors, lights and insulations are much more efficient,” he reports. Along with the more energy-efficient lighting systems, new flower refrigerators use more energy-efficient wall panels, fan motors and compressors, which result in lower electricity usage and costs.

New Technologies

THE WHEN

What does the future hold? We’re not seers here, but there is a bit of new— and affordable—technology currently available—the twist being you have to build it yourself.

While not everybody is a DIYer, the option of constructing your own CoolBot walk-in floral cooler, from Store It Cold, is an intriguing option.

The CoolBot system operates multiple sensors, a heating element and a programmed micro- controller to make a standard portable air- conditioner cool your storage and/or display area. The company does not mention humidity controls, so perhaps adding a portable humidifier could be discussed.

Per Johnny’s Selected Seeds, the CoolBot can transform “any well-insulated room, shed or trailer into an affordable walk-in cooler using a standard air conditioner,” but warns that a range of 42F to 45F is what is generally afforded. That said, the size of the air-conditioner used in relation to the dimensions of the walk-in cooler you construct can affect—and possibly lower—temperature levels.

For proper cut flower cooling, the “cooler” or cold room must be relatively airtight, with good insulation, and per Johnny’s, the door should not be opened more than six times per hour. If your requirements are for more accessibility, then perhaps a larger, or even multiple, air-conditioning units and more CoolBots would do the trick. We can state that an oversized air-conditioning unit will allow for lower fan speeds, to avoid gusting against your flowers.

Not all brands of air-conditioners are compatible with the CoolBot technology, however, and those that are must have a digital display and automatic restart.

Despite the limitations noted here, CoolBot can be a cost-effective option, with savings achieved via lower purchase and installation costs and, possibly, through lower monthly electricity bills and fewer technician visits compared to traditional refrigeration systems.

For those who already have a proper— but perhaps aging—floral refrigerator, a technology update may be called for, such as adding a readily-available and cost-effective high-precision TMP117 temperature sensor that monitors the refrigerator’s temperature and provides a warning if it gets too hot or too cold for your flowers.

Know Your Cooler Parts

Evaporator Coil : receives the liquid refrigerant

Condensing Unit: allows heat transfer

Expansion Valve: controls refrigerant flow to evaporator

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