When florists and growers began asking The Shropshire Seaweed Company if they had an organic product to keep cut flowers fresh, the team took it as both a challenge and an opportunity. "We'd already seen great success supplying our Organic Seaweed liquid feed fertilizer to British flower farms and professional growers," says Stewart Black, Product & Marketing Director. "Many of those same growers began asking us: 'Do you have anything organic for the flowers once they're cut?' At the time we didn't—but the challenge was irresistible."
What gave the company confidence to take on the task was its scientific background. "The Shropshire Seaweed Company is part of Sea-Chem Ltd, which for more than 20 years has been developing breakthrough biotechnologies, particularly in the wastewater and bioremediation sectors," Stewart explains. "We've created natural biotechnological products that neutralize harmful waste and return contaminated soils to a healthy, natural state."
© The Shropshire Seaweed Company
This experience, he says, meant they already had "the expertise and resources to understand how to rebalance delicate biological environments and restore life." So, when the floristry world asked for an organic, sustainable flower food, "we knew we could apply our knowledge to the vase. If our technologies could clean up petrochemical-contaminated soil on an industrial scale, why couldn't we create a product to help cut flower vibrancy and freshness?"
That question led to the creation of The Shropshire Seaweed Company's Organic Flower Food, an alternative to conventional flower food sachets—rooted in biotechnological innovation and designed to align with the sustainability values of growers, florists, and consumers.
Working with nature, not against it
"At its core, the biotechnology behind our Organic Flower Food is about working with nature's own systems instead of against them," Stewart says. Conventional sachets, he explains, use "a very blunt approach—heavy preservatives to suppress bacteria, refined sugars to feed the flower, and synthetic acidifiers to manage pH."
In contrast, the company's product takes inspiration from the way plants preserve life naturally. "By studying the resilience strategies of plants, we developed a way to create the right environment in the vase—one that keeps stems hydrated and encourages water uptake without relying on harsh synthetic inputs," he adds.
"The difference is subtle but powerful: instead of sterilizing the vase water, we nudge it into balance." The result, according to Stewart, is a solution that performs on par with conventional products but "feels gentler, safer, and far more sustainable."
Proven performance in trials
Trials have been carried out with British flower farms, high-street florists, and influencers who grow and arrange their own flowers. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "The phrase we keep hearing is simply: 'It definitely works!'" says Stewart.
"Florists and growers don't mince their words around these products—they see immediately whether something makes a difference or not," he adds. Testers have noted that "stems seem to drink more freely, with fewer early droops in sensitive varieties like tulips and roses, and most importantly, heads hold themselves fresher for longer."
Beyond the technical performance, there's strong appreciation for the story and sustainability. "Buyers like that it's organic and sustainable, with packaging that's plastic-free and easy to recycle. They feel confident presenting it to eco-conscious customers without compromise."
"In short," Stewart concludes, "the technical results are there, but what matters most is that our testers—from professional farms to everyday flower lovers—all agree: the flowers simply last better."
From consumer sachet to wholesale solution
While the Organic Flower Food was first developed as a simple consumer sachet, its applications have quickly expanded. "It became clear that the potential was far bigger," says Stewart.
The company now offers the same formula in 10kg sacks of powder for florists, growers, and wholesalers. "This makes it practical for large-scale use—florists can portion out servings for display buckets or conditioning water without relying on hundreds of sachets," he explains. "It's cleaner, more economical, and creates far less packaging waste."
Because it's a powdered formula, it's "highly stable, light to transport, and easy to measure in any setting—from the shop floor to large-scale flower farms." Florists appreciate the flexibility, while growers benefit from a consistent organic aftercare solution that integrates into existing hydration routines.
A growing demand for organic post-harvest solutions
Looking ahead, Stewart sees strong momentum for organic post-harvest products. "We see the demand only accelerating, driven from multiple directions," he says.
He points to three main drivers: industry sustainability commitments, younger consumer expectations, and marketing value. "Many of the world's largest retailers and growers have ambitious sustainability pledges—net zero targets, plastic reduction goals, and chemical phase-outs. Suppliers are actively seeking replacements that tick those boxes without compromising quality."
At the same time, "Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are the largest growth segment for cut flowers, and they expect transparency. For them, organic and sustainable aren't luxuries—they're expectations."
And from a marketing standpoint, "offering flowers that come with an organic aftercare solution provides a tangible, visible sustainability step that's easy to communicate."
"In short," says Stewart, "the move toward organic and sustainable practices isn't just a trend—it's becoming structural. Flowers are one of life's luxuries, and increasingly, people want that luxury without guilt."
Smart, gentle performance
What truly sets the Organic Flower Food apart, Stewart says, is that it "works with the flower's own biology, not overriding it."
The formula includes bioactive regulators that help manage oxidative stress and delay ageing signals, maintaining clear water uptake through the vascular system. "It's a balanced, intelligent environment, not a chemical overload."
It's also microbiome-friendly, gently modulating the vase environment rather than sterilizing it. "We suppress harmful biofilm formation while maintaining a stable, low-risk environment around the stem base," Stewart notes.
Even in challenging conditions, the product remains stable. "Our buffering and ionic balance system ensures the vase environment stays within the ideal pH and ionic range, even when florists use hard or variable water sources," he adds. And because it avoids harsh antimicrobials, "the leftover vase water is cleaner and safer for the environment—better even to pour onto non-edible plants."
As Stewart sums it up: "What sets our Organic Flower Food apart is not just what it does, but how it does it—smart, gentle performance with no harsh trade-offs."
For more information:
The Shropshire Seaweed Company
https://shropshireseaweed.co.uk/
