Preserved Astilbe
Information on preserved astilbe
What is Astilbe?
Astilbe is an herbaceous perennial known for its dense spikes of feathery flowers and its ability to thrive in shady, moist areas. Its leaves are generally compound and light in texture.
Astilbe flowers can be white, pink, red or purple and bloom in summer, adding colour and texture to shady gardens.
With the preserved version of Astilbe, which can be found in dried flower arrangements, the differences are remarkable. Preserved Astilbe loses the freshness and fragrance of the living plant, but retains its shape and colour for long periods without water. It can even be dyed in colours other than its natural ones.
Durability of Astilbe
The shelf life of fresh astilbe, once cut, is about 7 to 10 days. This is considered an average lifespan and can be maximised with proper care. It’s not bad, but for certain occasions and flower arrangements it is necessary that it lasts much longer or does not need water or light.
In such cases, preserved astilbe is an ideal choice, as it can last for months or even years with virtually no maintenance.
How to keep preserved limonium in a good condition?
- Avoid any action that may crush, press or bend foliage, petals and flowers.
- Avoid direct or indirect exposure to sunlight.
- Avoid the presence of intense sources of indirect light, including those behind glass or similar surfaces.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to environments with humidity levels above 50%.
- Avoid continuous exposure to temperatures exceeding 30°C.
- The use of these elements is recommended for indoor use only.
Professional uses for astilbe
For which professionals is preserved astilbe useful?
They are particularly popular in floristry and floral arrangement design. They are widely used and even essential in certain types of bouquets because of their unique look, which cannot be achieved with just any flower.
In addition, floral designers seeking to maintain aesthetic consistency over long periods, such as in shop windows or interior decoration, can also benefit.
What are the most common occasions for using astilbe?
Preserved Astilbes are in high demand for events and decorations that require a flawless and durable appearance, such as weddings, trade shows and interior decorations in controlled environments.
They are particularly useful in situations where logistics or time constraints prevent the use of fresh flowers, and in climates where the maintenance of fresh flowers is difficult.
How we ensure the quality of our Astilbe
Production and preservation process
- Selection and preparation: We carefully select Astilbe stems to ensure they are in optimum condition.
- Preservative treatment: The preservative and colorant (50% glycerin + water + colorants) are applied by the absorption method, immersing the lower part of the stems in the liquid. After 24 to 36 hours, when the preservative has been totally absorbed, the product can pass to the next phase.
- Drying: The product passes to the drying station with a higher temperature and a lower percentage of ambient humidity where it will remain for 24 to 48 hours.
- Inspection and packaging: Finally, we remove damaged and wilted leaves and select only the best, healthiest and most attractive stems, and carefully pack it to protect it during transportation and storage.
Why do we believe so much in the Santa Dorotea quality?
We carefully control the entire process. From the care and treatment of the plants, the specific manual selection of the specimens that present the best conditions, the preservation process, to the packaging and transport through our own transport service Verdnatura.
Before packaging, each plant is subjected to a final inspection. We check the integrity of the plant’s structure, flexibility and overall appearance. In addition, the plants are carefully packed to avoid damage during transport and we use packaging materials that protect the plants from moisture and shocks.
Finally, we collect and analyse feedback from florists and other customers to identify areas for improvement in our production and preservation processes, and implement continuous improvements based on this feedback to ensure that our plants maintain the highest quality.
Santa Dorotea – A sure bet for quality
At Santa Dorotea we focus on quality and care in everything we do, both in what we produce and in what we select from the best producers in the world to offer you the best variety at competitive prices.