Flower preservation knowledge: let flowers accompany you through sunrise and sunset
A home with flowers always makes people feel relaxed and happy. Gazing at fresh flowers and smelling their fragrance, the tired body and mind gradually relax, and the soul follows the flowers' trail to the ends of the earth. Yet flowers always wither eventually. How can fresh flowers be kept longer? Let's take a look below.
I. Introduction to flower preservation
Flowers, especially cut flowers, are often treated with flower preservatives after harvest to maintain the best quality, delay aging, and resist changes in the external environment. Flower preservatives include general preservative solutions, hydration solutions, pulse solutions, STS pulse solutions, bud-opening solutions, and vase-holding solutions. At every stage of harvest and handling, from cultivation to wholesale, retail, and consumption, flower preservatives can be used. Many cut flowers, after preservative treatment, can have their lifespan extended by 2 to 3 times. Flower preservatives can make blooms larger and maintain the color of leaves and petals, thereby improving flower quality.
II. Types of flower preservatives
1. Carbohydrates
The main nutrient and energy source for cut flowers, they can sustain all physiological and biochemical processes of cut flowers after they leave the mother plant. Externally supplied sugar sources participate in extending vase life and play a role in maintaining the structure and function of mitochondria in cut flower cells. By regulating transpiration and cell osmosis, they promote water balance and increase water absorption. Sucrose is one of the most widely used carbohydrates in preservatives, and fructose and glucose are sometimes used as well.
Different cut flower species, or different cultivars of the same species, have different suitable sugar concentrations in preservatives. For example, in bud-opening solutions, the optimum concentration for carnation is 10%, while chrysanthemum leaves are sensitive to sugar and generally use 2%, and rose is prone to leaf burn when above 1.5%. The optimum sugar concentration is also related to the treatment method and duration. Generally speaking, for a specific cut flower, the longer the preservative treatment time, the lower the required sugar concentration. Therefore, pulse solutions (treated for a shorter time after harvest) have a high sugar concentration, bud-opening solutions have a medium concentration, and vase-holding solutions have a lower sugar concentration.
2. Fungicides
The microorganisms that grow in vases include bacteria, yeasts, and molds. After these microorganisms multiply in large numbers, they block the stem vessels, affect water uptake by cut flowers, and produce ethylene and other toxic substances that accelerate cut flower aging. To control microbial growth, fungicides can be added to preservatives or mixed with other ingredients.
3. Ethylene inhibitors
Silver thiosulfate (STS) is currently the most widely used and best ethylene inhibitor in the floral industry. It has good mobility within the plant and a highly effective inhibitory effect on ethylene synthesis in flowers. It effectively extends the vase life of many flowers. STS needs to be prepared just before use, and the prepared solution is best used immediately; if not used right away, it should be stored away from light. It can be stored for 4 days in a dark environment at 20-30°C.
4. Growth regulators
Growth regulators are used in flower preservatives; they include synthetic auxins and plant endogenous hormones. Plant growth regulators can be used alone or mixed with other ingredients. They can trigger or inhibit various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, thereby delaying the aging process of cut flowers. Among them, cytokinins are the most commonly used; they mainly inhibit ethylene production. When applied, they can be sprayed or dipped. The optimum concentration is 10-100 ppm, and dipping for 2 minutes is sufficient. If the time is too long, adverse effects can also occur. Carnation responds best to this treatment.
The above is about flower preservation methods. We hope it helps you.