Cold storage of cut flowers is often a necessity . On most farms , it is unsufferable to harvest enough flowers to satisfy the straightaway penury of all customers and markets . Storing shortened flowers at cold temperatures of 35 - 39 ° F boil down respiration and transpiration , reserve them to remain fresh and have a long vase liveliness . The duration that flowers can be stored varies with the metal money , from a few days to several hebdomad . The majority , however , can only be store for a few days to a calendar week before vase aliveness is reduced .
It would be greatly advantageous for flowers to be put in longer than a few days . If cut prime growers could hold cut flush for an extended meter , products could be stocked more easily for holidays , markets , and events . In increase , growers would be able to manage overweening output that can occur if fond temperatures speed up crop schedule .
Subzero memory ( storage at temperatures of 31 ° F/-0.6 ° C ) may be utilitarian in extend storage length without sacrificing vase life . early work at NC State depict that tulips could be held at 31 ° atomic number 9 for 9 weeks with no going of vase life , and paeony had improved flower initiative and caliber after being held at 31 ° degree Fahrenheit for 16 workweek compare to 33 ° atomic number 9 .
The objective of our latest study was to spring up a practical long - term reposition cognitive process for selected cut flower species using subzero temperature . In this article , we will be sharing the outcome of one experiment from our subject area . Click here to see the other experiments and final result .
We evaluated differences in viability , vase life , and quality of 17 commercially important cut flower species : alstroemeria , sea anemone , bellflower , carnation , chrysanthemum , delphinium , freesia , genus Gerbera , gypsophila , larkspur , lily , lisianthus , genus Ranunculus , rose , stock , sunflower , and tuberose when store dry at either 31 ° fluorine or 39 ° degree Fahrenheit for durations of 4 , 8 , and 12 weeks . Results showed that all specie store at 31 ° F were comparable to or had prospicient vase life than stems lay in at 39 ° F . Tuberose stems were not practicable after holding for any storage duration or temperature . When stored at a subzero temperature for extended periods , many specie did not drop off as much water and had less disease than when obligate at 39 ° fluorine . However , the distance of storage that freshly cut flowers can resist without loss in viability or quality varies among species and cultivars . Rose and gillyflower stem were the most tolerant of lengthy storage duration , up to 12 week .
This study propose a worthful resolution for flower producers . By salt away blooms at subzero temperatures , they can ensure long vase living and better match supply with market need . specially during times when unexpected conditions conditions zip up flower production , this method acting offers a fallback to manage early harvests effectively .
In the future , more research will be needed to check over if results are logical across various flower cultivars . But for now , storing flowers dry immediately after harvest time seems like a promising and toll - effective root .
Source : endowment.org
