Cold Rooms
The basic requirement for coolrooms is to keep flowers between 0-2 deg C at high relative humidity. Make sure that it is sheltered from the direct sun so that the motor is not unnecessarily overloaded. For the same reason, avoid putting the coolroom on the western wall of the packing shed.

Ensure that the outside seal of the coolroom is good as otherwise moisture-laden air from the outside will condense on the cold, inside wall of the coolroom and result in corrosion problems.

Construct shelves inside the coolroom to use the space more efficiently but avoid putting shelves directly under the fans - even cold, moist air can be drying. Otherwise leave space for trolleys to move flowers in treatment solutions or in boxes. Store most of the floral preservatives and S.T.S. in the coolroom if possible.

In the coolroom, it is still possible for the flowers to desiccate with constant air movement. This is most important if flowers are kept in the coolroom for longer than one or two days. Desiccation can be reduced by sleeving bunches or placing sheets of plastic over flowers (if possible not resting on petals) to create a more humid microclimate. Avoid putting buckets immediately in front of the fans. An alternative is to sleeve the bucket, ie put in a large plastic bag which extends past the top of the bucket and flowers.

As high humidity coolrooms that provide a better enviroment are more expensive than with other coolrooms, it is possible to raise the relative humidity in the flower micro-climate by using plastic wraps.

Keep a thermometer in the centre of the coolroom near where some flowers are being stored, as a check against the accuracy of the thermometer on the outside wall.

Coolroom cleanliness
Floors and benches should be cleaned regularly. This is often best done when rotating stock. Good hygiene and stock control will maximise the life of flowers and foliage. Cleaning can be done with a biocide or propriety brand bleach er Snow White.

Care should be taken to keep cut flowers away from exhausts when loading and unloading delivery vehicles.

Flowers should be kept away from petroleum fuelled heaters.
Store ethylene sensitive flowers away from other varieties.