Postharvest rose care and handling techniques to increase vase life and profits
Postharvest rose care and handling techniques to increase vase life and profits
At the grower level:
• No hydration in greenhouses and minimal hydration (one to two hours) thereafter can help reduce stem blockage by bacteria, petal bruising during transport, Botrytis development, and/or ethylene induced damages. This also results in reduced labor, bucket, and solution costs and allows for more effective use of cooler space.
• Making one’s own hydration solutions containing calcium or sodium hypochlorite (with or without citric acid) often results in increased internal stem bacteria levels, shorter vase life, and avoidable claims.
• Bunch roses with all of the cut stem ends at the same level and place the bottom stem tie at least four inches (10 centimeters) up from the cut stem ends to make it easier for all the stems to be recut by customers.
At the wholesale level:
• Roses often perform better at retail level if they are stored dry (not hydrated) by wholesalers. Dry storage also results in more effective use of cooler space (less buckets), which is especially important during holiday periods.
At the retail level:
• Make sure every stem is recut before placing flowers in a full strength flower food solution and that no foliage is in the solution.
• Every bouquet, bunch and arrangement sold should include a 10-gram packet of flower food.
• Provide point-of-purchase information for consumers on the benefits of properly using flower foods.
George Staby is a postharvest physiologist specializing in floral crops at Perishables Research Organization in Florence, AZ, and Elk Grove, CA. He can be contacted at 520/723-9705 or [email protected].