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Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: What is Floral Preservation? A: The basic principle of freeze-drying is the removal of water from a specimen as water vapor by means of a vacuum, and collection of this water vapor in a condenser. With the specimen solidly frozen during the process, shrinkage is eliminated or minimized, and near perfect preservation will result. Freeze-drying requires the use of a special machine called a freeze-dryer. The freeze-dryer has a large chamber that can hold thousands of flowers. Q: How long does the bouquet preservation take? A: Average turnaround time falls anywhere between 8-12 weeks, with a few display options requiring more time because they are customized as needed. Q: Do flowers change color? A: Slight color variations can occur in the preservation process. Some reds may deepen, whites and creams may antique, and vivid purples and pinks may change hue. Q: What is freeze drying? A: Freeze drying, or lyophilization, is the process of removing water from a material while keeping the structure and composition of the material intact. Q: How does freeze drying work? A: Freeze drying removes the water through a process called sublimation. Sublimation is the shift from a solid directly to a gas. There are two major factors that determine what phase (solid, liquid, or gas) a substance is in: pressure and temperature. At sea level and temperatures below 32 degree F, water is in its solid form. At sea level and temperatures above 212 degrees F, water is in its gas form. Q: Are there any flowers that cannot be preserved? A: No. The biggest problems are the "wax-dipped" flowers. These are usually gardenias. Waxed gardenias without paint turn black. Another frequently used flower is the stephanotis. These are often used in bridal bouquets. The stephanotis is very fragile and can arrive in bad shape. |
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