TROPICALS GUIDE Take a Trip to the Tropics Right in Your Shop DISCOVER: • TROPICAL ARRANGEMENT RECIPES • EXOTIC VARIETIES • • CARE & HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS • PERMANENT OPTIONS •
• A Little Slice of Paradise •
Introduction This booklet is your guide to tropical flowers and plants, courtesy of Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist. Inside, you will find illustrations and photographs, descriptions, care and handling instructions, and recipes for arrangements of tropical varieties. Only a small sample of each type of flower is shown, so please ask your sales representative about the wide selection of colors and varieties we have available to you! Tropicals can be intimidating, but they allow you to create designs in a new and unique way, and we encourage you to give them a try. Mix in novelty flowers for a look that is truly fresh and new. Our friendly and experienced staff is happy to help if you have any questions! Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist 2407 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55413 612-331-4141 // 877-KOEHLER www.koehlerdramm.com Find us on Facebook & Instagram!
Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 7:00-5:00 Friday 7:00-4:30 Saturday 7:00-12:00 Sunday 8:00-1:00 *We are not open to the general public.
General Care As soon as receiving tropical flowers, cut off at least one inch from the bottom of each stem. Then immediately immerse the entire flower, including the stem, in clean, warm water with flower food for at least 10-15 minutes. Place flowers in a clean, fresh vase with flower food. Repeat the soaking process every three days or so. Cutting the stem at an angle will allow for maximum water absorption from all flowers. Keep tropical flowers out of direct sunlight and breezy areas, and maintain a temperature above 50-55°F for best results.
Get Creative Working with tropicals can be intimidating to many designers, but it’s not as scary as you think... We promise! Tropicals are actually extremely versatile, and can be combined with everyday flowers, too!
Anthurium Anthurium can be easily recognized by its distinctive spike on which thousands of tiny flowers bloom, usually with a fleshy and brightly colored leaf-like spathe underneath. This tropical flower was discovered by an Austrian botanist named Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, and can be found in Hawaii and the tropical mountains of South-Central America. The leaves of this tropical flower can come in many different shapes and sizes.
Recipe for: Tropical Sunset Ingredients: 8 small Uluhe Fern
5 small Heliconia
3 small Anthurium
4 stems Mokara Orchids
5 Red Ti Leaves
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to 1/2� below the lip and secure. 2. Insert Heliconia and Uluhe Fern first. 3. Place your Anthuriums in front, keeping the spathes pointing in the same direction. 4. Place your orchids vertically and at random. 5. Cut your ti leaves in half and place vertically around the base. 6. Add moss, stones, marbles, or wood chips in the bottom. 7. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Ginger There are approximately 1,400 species of Ginger in the world, including the edible species. Many ornamental gingers, primarily from Indo-Malaysia, have been introduced in the past century. A native to the West Pacific, the crimson color and strong form of the red ginger makes it a favorite for cut flower bouquets. Ginger can last up to two weeks.
Recipe For: Tranquility Ingredients: 1 Bird of Paradise
1 Shampoo Ginger
4 Xanadu
1 Strelitzia Leaf
1 small Heliconia
1 Anthurium
2 Mokara
1 Sansevieria foliage
1 stem Leucadendron
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to 1/2� below the lip and secure. 2. Place your Bird of Paradise horizontally on the right. 3. Place your Strelitzia leaf horizontally on the left. 4. Add Shampoo Ginger to the focal area. 5. Place your Sansevieria leaf towards the back. 6. Add your Xanadu last. 7. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Bromeliad Bromeliads are a member of the pineapple family, and are usually grown in Central and South America and the Caribbean. There are over 3,000 species of Bromeliads, and they can be found growing in all kinds of conditions, including terrestrial, saxicolous, and epiphytic. Most Bromeliads only flower a single time, but they are very easy to grow and require very little care. They come in a variety of sizes and can be grown indoors in cooler climates, or outdoors where the temperatures stay above freezing.
Care and Handling In your home, a window with southern, eastern, or western exposure should provide sufficient light for a Bromeliad, but most varieties that are used as houseplants must not be exposed to direct sunlight. Water them well, allow excess water to drain, and allow the plant to dry out before watering again.
Protea Native to South Africa, Protea are mostly found in the southern hemisphere. Some Protea have been found to be over 300 million years old, and are named after the Greek god of the sea, Proteus, due to his ability to change his form at will, which speaks to the adaptability of the Protea. There are roughly 1,400 species of Protea in the world. They are versatile, long lasting, and have a dramatic and unique appearance. As the saying goes, “Protea never die, they just dry,” and their lasting color makes them perfect for use in dried arrangements after you’ve enjoyed their fresh state. Proteas can also be kept in a regular cooler!
Recipe For: Tropical Sensation Ingredients: 3 Wax Ginger
2 stems James Storie Orchid
5 stems Leucadendron
1 block floral foam
1 Pincushion Protea
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to 1/2” below the lip. 2. Soak foam in fresh water with flower food. Place in container and fill with water. 3. Cut your wax ginger at three different heights. 4. Insert Pincushion Protea in front center, facing up. 5. Cut and separate orchid stems, inserting them around the ginger. 6. Cut Leucadendron heads short; base the design solid, resembling grass or ground cover. 7. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Protea
Recipe For: Innocence Ingredients: 5 fresh Bamboo stalks
5 Cypripdum
5 Orchid Grass
How to: 1. Select and clean your vase, then add water with flower food to 2” from the top. 2. Cut stems at an angle. 3. Place stems in vase in any order. 4. Add water with flower food as needed. 5. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Recipe For: Romantic Spotlight Ingredients: 2 Halla foliage 2 Anthurium
2 Pincushion Protea 2 stems Ti leaves
How to: 1. Select and clean your vase, then add water with flower food to 2” from the top. 2. Cut stems at an angle. 3. Slit one Halla, and place the second through it. 4. Place stems in vase in any order. 5. Add water with flower food as needed. 6. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Recipe For: Yin and Yang Ingredients: 7 stems River Cane 2 stems Leucadendron
3 stems Orchids 2 Fan Palm
5 Calla
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to top of container and secure. 2. Insert River Cane into the center of the foam. 3. Separate and insert Orchids. Use glue dots if necessary. 4. Use the natural curve of the Calla when designing. 5. Cut Fan Palm and place in the back. 6. Add water with flower food as needed. 7. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Care and Handling
Upon arrival, cut 1/2” to 3/4” off the stem at a sharp angle, and remove any leaves that would be below the water line. Place protea in a clean bucket with fresh water and flower food. Check the water level every few hours as protea drink heavily when rehydrating. Place in the cooler after about 30 minutes. Keep protea OUT of the tropical cooler. They should be stored between 34-36°F for maximum shelf/vase life. Replace the water every three to four days.
Birds Of Paradise Birds of Paradise are also known as Crane flowers, and they are one of the most colorful flowers in the world. Its name comes from the spectacular flower shape, which resembles a bird’s beak and head plumage.
Care and Handling Upon arrival, cut one inch of the stem and immediately place in fresh water at room temperature. To bring out extra flowers, soak the head of the flower in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Insert your thumbs into the red lined, unopened sheath through the open upper part of the sheath. Slowly slide your thumbs forward, lifting the flower gently out of the sheath, working from the large end towards the small tip. Gently remove the membranes that separate each flower by gently pulling or cutting them off. Refrigerate at 50-55°F. Clean vase and stems every three days, and use clean, warm water with flower food. Birds of Paradise plants come from a tropical region, and this determines their care needs. Light: 5-6 hours of full sun (may need to supplement with artificial light). Humidity: Active periods - mist every day; Dormant periods - mist 1-2 times per week. Watering: Active periods - keep soil moist; Dormant periods - water once per month. Fertilizer: Active periods - once every two weeks; Dormant periods - fertilize once per month. One common mistake people make is that they repot the plants too frequently. A Bird of Paradise will take 3-4 years to bloom. Once they do bloom, disturbing the roots in any way may cause it not to bloom again for another 2-3 years. It is best to let your Bird of Paradise stay in the same pot. Do not worry if the plant becomes root-bound; these plants perform best when their roots are crowded in the pot.
Recipe For: Fly Away Ingredients: 3 Birds of Paradise 3 stems Oncidium 1 Monstra Leaf
3 stems Leucadendron 1 Fan Palm 1 Fish Tail Palm 4 Ti leaves 3 stems Croton leaves
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to top of container and score edges. 2. Soak foam in clear, warm water with flower food, then place in container and anchor. 3. Bring the leaves of your fan palm down and tape them to the stem. 4. Add Birds of Paradise, Leucadendron, and Orchids, crossing their stems. 5. Place Fish Tail palm on one side and Monstra on the other. 6. Base with remaining flowers and foliage. 7. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Heliconia Splendid splashes of color, dramatic form, a long life, and wide variety of sizes make Heliconia a favorite go-to for tropical flower arrangements. The name Heliconia honors Mt. Heliconia, the home of the ancient Greek gods. There are approximately 400 species of Heliconia, with 98% being native to tropical America and some of the Pacific islands. The leaves of this tropical flower can grow quite large, and the fleshy, brightly colored panicles grow on erect or drooping panicles, but the panicles are simply a protective structure for the real flower that peeks out from inside them,
Recipe For: Sacred Spaces Ingredients: 1 Hanging Heliconia
1 Bird of Paradise
3 Ginger
2 Halla foliage
3 medium Anthurium
1 large Anthurium
3 Croton leaves How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to 1.5� above the lip and score edges. 2. Soak foam in clear, warm water with flower food, then place in container and anchor. 3. Place Heliconia in the middle of the back of the foam. Cut the two Ginger and shadow them to the left. Cut the third and place near the base. Cut the Bird of Paradise in half, then place the blossom in the right side and the stem in the left, resembling an arrow through the foam. 4. Frame and shadow with two Halla, creasing the leaves to point towards the Ginger. Secure on Heliconia. 5. Add Leucadendron and Croton leaves for basing. 6. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Orchids Dendrobium
Assorted Vanda
Mokara
Cymbidium
Oncidium
Orchids Paphiopedilum
Phalaenopsis
Cattleya
Recipe For: Jungle Joy Ingredients: 4 Lilies 3 Peony 2 stems Mokara 6 Red Ti leaves
1 stem berries
5 stems Cestrum
How to: 1. Select and clean your container, then cut your foam to top of container and secure. 2. Place Ti leaves across the top of the foam and roll by inserting the stem into the cut leaf about halfway down. 3. Insert Lilies and secure to Ti leaves, then add your Mokara, Cestrum, and Peony 4. Care: groom, water, and remove dying flowers or foliage as necessary.
Tropical Supplies A. Philo Leaf Green 26” Split HS27196 $4.95 each B. Cymbidium Orchid Bush 26” HS100098RD $4.95 each C. Renantanda w/ Flower & Bud 35” HS28423 $6.99 each
B
A
E
D. Phalaenopsis Orchid Blue 20” HS2914007 $5.99 each
D
E. Coral Flower Spray 46” HHSC510FL $21.29 each
C
F. Tropical Bud Spray GR/PL 31” HHSB182GRPL $4.49 each G. Monstera Leaf Placemat 18x16.5” HAA8810GR $7.99 each
F
I
H
H. Sansevieria Bush 27” GRN/YEL HG13444 $13.95 each
G
I. Alocasia Leaf Spray Green HESP18524G $3.99 each J. Protea Banksia Mauve HESP13458MV $6.99 each K. Orange Hibiscus Stem 20” H245091 $6.79 each
J
K
L. Red Hibiscus Stem 20” H245090 $6.79 each
N
M. Bourgainvillea 43” American Bty. H95603AB $17.95 each
M
L
N. Bird of Paradise 39” Orange H223631 $8.95 each
O
O. Leaf w/ Pod 19” Burg/Green H95850BUGR $6.79 each P. Orange Vanda Orchid 21” H93121OR $13.99 each Q. Banana Leaf 30W HAA8802GR $14.49 each
P
Q R
R. Banana Tree 8’ Tall HLPTL48GR $143.49 each S. Protea Stem 20” Pink H200195 $17.95 each T. Bamboo Spray 30” YEL/GRN H119179 $1.25 each
T S
Tropical Supplies C
A. Resin Shell Container HMT20036 $12.79 each
B A
B. Square Paper Lantern 4 Asst. HH2878 $27.45 each SALE! $21.98 C. Literatus Shells 8/Pkg H2273300 $9.95/bag D. Ivory Coral Fan Plastic HMTF20637 $10.99 each
D E F
E. Black Murex Seashells 3/Pkg H2278000 $9.95/pkg F. Seashell Stem HESP18042 $2.99 each G. Orange Organza Table Topper H1212OR54S $12.45 each
H I G
H. Faux Coral Nat/Cream HMT20014 $6.29 each I. Mocha Sand Dollar Ceramic 9.5x11� HCWE50MOC $22.45 each J. Sand w/ Glitter 790g - Assorted Colors $3.99 each K. Sand Vase Filler - Assorted Colors Black HVF796BK Grey HVF796GY Taupe HVF796T $5.45 each SALE! $3.98
J
K
Bouquets & Arrangements
Tropical Bouquets and Arrangements featuring tropical flowers will be available all month long! Keep an eye on our Limited Time and Bouquet and Arrangement weekly specials, or talk to your sales rep for more information!
Plants TILLANDSIA “Air Plants”
ALOCASIA AMAZONICA
CYPERUS PAPYRUS “Little Tut” TRIPLE BROMELIAD
Alocasia amazonica Light: Varies from shade to full sunlight. Leaf color is better with more light. Water: Keep moist all year, with very high humidity. They are water-loving plants. Temperature: Will start to suffer below 60F. Cyperus papyrus ‘Little Tut’ (Seasonally Available) Light: Likes full sun to part shade. Water: Prefers to be moist making it perfect for pots without drainage holes. Temperature: Will start to suffer below 60F.
ORDER YOUR TROPICALS NOW: 612-331-4141 // 877-KOEHLER