Grading Of Flowers

Flower

• 1

  Look at the size of your flower. Size is divided into good size, which is normal or larger than it should be, and small size, labeled because it is smaller than average. Label your flower good or small before moving on to the next step.

• 2

  Grade your flower based on the tightness, meaning the correct developmental stage for the flower -- slightly open or opening, referring to a flower that is ready for immediate use. Record this information on your checklist.

• 3

  Give your flower a check mark in the cleanliness category if it is clean, meaning disease-free with no damage. If your flower has damage, do not check this category.

• 4

  Give your flower a grade ranging from nine to zero. Choose nine if your flower is a normal size, tight and clean. Give an eight if it is small, tight and clean, a seven if it is a good size, slightly open and clean and a six if it is small, slightly open and clean. Choose a score of five if your flower is a good size, opening and clean and a four if it's small, opening and clean. If your flower is damaged or diseased, give it a three if it is tight and slightly opened, a two if it is slightly opened or opening and a one if it is just a good size. Reserve 0 for when the flower is actually missing from the stem.

Leaves

• 5

  Consider the color of the leaves on your flower. Your leaves will fall into good or healthy color or pale color, which usually means the flower was picked too soon or undernourished. Mark the condition down on your checklist.

• 6

  Look at the size and shape of the leaf. A well-formed leaf is a healthy size and shape, while leaves with young growth may wilt. The leaves should be clean and undamaged. Note both of these on your checklist.

• 7

  Give your leaves a score of nine if they have good color, are well-formed and undamaged, an eight if they are pale, well-formed and undamaged and a seven if they are undamaged with good color and young tips. For leaves that are undamaged, pale and have young tips, give a score of six. Give all leaves with damaged or unclean leaves a score of five or below depending on other factors; a five if they have good color and are well-formed, a four if they are pale and well-formed and a three if they have good color with young tips. Give a score of two for pale color with young tips and a one for only good color. Reserve zero for no leaves.

Stem

• 8

  Note whether the stem is straight, slightly bent, slightly weak or weak. Be sure the stem is clean and undamaged.

• 9

  Give your stem a score in the range of four to nine if the stem is clean and undamaged. Give a score of nine if the stem is also straight, an eight if it is slightly bent and a seven if it is straight and slightly weak. A stem that is slightly bent and slightly weak gets a six and a stem that is slightly bent and weak is given a four. If in between, assign the stem a five.

• 10

  For damaged or unclean stems, give a score of three if the stem is straight, a two if it is slightly bent and a one if it is slightly weak. Use a zero if there is no stem.