Storing flowers and extending their freshness
Caring for flowers does not end when they are transferred from the place of production to the florist; they still need to be cared for, as the entire result of the manufacturer's work could be ruined by improper handling during storage.
Basically all flowering plants, potted, as well as cut flowers, is kept indoors, where the temperature should be between 5 do 8°.
Cut flowers - immediately after cutting, they can be immersed in water, however, for longer storage, flower stems should not be submerged deeper than 5-7 cm. The water temperature cannot be much lower than the room temperature, in which the flowers are stored. Do not use "ice-cold" water. Before placing in water, all leaves are removed from the lower part of the flower stem.
Some plants require special treatments after cutting; e.g. plants with woody shoots (Roses, bzy, gilding, rhododendrons) before immersing in a vessel with water, crush or debark the lower part of the flower at a height of 5-7 cm. After the application of this treatment, flowers stay fresh for a few days longer than when put into the water, trimmed normally.
After cutting, flowering lilac branches should be completely immersed in water for several hours, or immerse only the shoots in a deep vessel of water, and sprinkle the inflorescences through a dense strainer with cool water. Dishes with plants should be moved to a dark room. The inflorescences should be shaken from the water before being placed in the vases.
Plants which emit a milky liquid from the shoots after cutting (poinsettia and all of the spurgeon family, as well as poppy and heliotrope) require the direct immersion of the lower part of the flower in hot water for 1-3 minutes at a height of up to 2 cm. Instead of a bath, the cuts can be scorched over the flame.
Dahlias stay fresh longer, if they are placed in water at 45 ° immediately after cutting.
Lewkonie, and also ground spurgeons, both for safekeeping, and for transport, should be pulled out with the entire root system, shortening only the thin lateral roots.
Cyclamen, to protect and prolong their freshness, before placing it in the water, the flower stem is cut lengthwise 2–3 cm, the end of the shoot aligning with a perpendicular cut. Such a cut is better than a miter cut - often used in practice. In order to prolong the freshness of cyclamen flowers, it may also be advisable to pierce the shoot with a pin.
Greenhouse cloves are usually cut with a knife, however, they keep fresh longer and better, if they are broken in the knot before being put into the water, the so-called. knee. This method is even better than the applied lengthwise trimming of the shoots.
All kinds and species of flowers are stored in cold stores, storerooms or warehouses should be placed separately in separate containers.
Cut greenery should not be placed in one pot with flowering plants, and it is also not recommended to place them indoors or near flowers that give off odors.
It is also not allowed to keep flowers in the same compartment with fruit. It is recommended to use a polyethylene film or cellophane to isolate certain parts of the flowers from others (e.g. flowers odorless).
However, it should be remembered, that any kind of packaging can be used then, when plants placed in a vessel of water regain turgor. Dead flowers must not be wrapped. Plants with medium turbulence are more suitable for transport, as well as with completely dry foliage, with flowers not damp. Therefore, plants intended for transport are only partially submerged in water - only the lower part of the flower stem. Before placing flowers in a vessel with water, cut the lower part of the shoot again or break it off at the knee.
The mechanical treatments discussed previously are not always sufficient to prolong the freshness of cut flowers. Often the cause of plant wilt is that bacteria in the water infest them.
The growth of bacteria and the breakdown of plant cells, and thus the wilting of plants can be prevented by adding various bactericidal and fungicidal substances to the water, and premature aging of plants cut in buds can be counteracted by adding sugar.
Aspirin is quite commonly used to extend the freshness period of cut flowers, headache powders and other similar preparations. However, experience has shown, that it is pointless. The best results are obtained by using silver nitrate in quantity 0,003% with added sugar. The amount of sugar depends on the degree of flower development, as well as the type of plant.
The addition of sugar extends the freshness period of freesia and dahlia flowers when stored at low temperatures, it also positively influences the cut young flower shoots of the snapdragon.
In some countries, various ready-made sets of bactericides and fungicides with the appropriate addition of sugar are commonly used - under the name "Floralife", "Bloomlife" and others. These preparations - bagged in small amounts with appropriate instructions for their use - are used both by institutions distributing commercial material - cut flower, and by retail recipients..
In our terms, because there are no ready-made preparations yet, you can use silver nitrate in an amount 0,003%, Mushroom in quantity 0,4 g na 1 liter of water or seed dressing R in quantity 0,01 g na 1 liter of water with added sugar. These measures are good for prolonging the freshness of Levkonia, chrysanthemums, carnations and others.
However, pay attention, that adding sugar to the water is not recommended, it causes a rapid development of microorganisms harmful to plants in the water.