Lecture 5Outline of Current LectureI. TemperatureII. HumidityIII. EthyleneIV. Microbial ActivityV. ChemicalsCurrent Lecture – Care and Handling – 2I. TemperatureDecreased storage temperatureDecreases respiration and transpirationDelays senescenceLonger vase lifeIdeal temperature varies with flower species (~35-40ºF) – for non-tropical flowersII. HumidityConserves water lossRelative humidity of 90%Spray flowers with water bottle to increase relative humidityIII. EthyleneRemove dying flowers to reduce sources of ethylene – remove unhealthy tissueHastens maturing processSymptomsPremature wiltingAgingDropping of leaves and flowersYellowing of foliageKeep storage area cleanLow temps 40º and below help slow processIV. Microbial ActivityReduces vase life – plugs stemGood sanitation is essentialDisinfect with bleachRemove lower foliageV. ChemicalsFloral preservative (sugar, disinfectant, acid)Long-tem solutionUsed at every level of grower-consumer chainIncreases flower size/colorReduce odorSUGARS – nutritionBIOCIDES – kill microorganisms – bleachACIDIFIER – reduce pH – citric acidSprite has sugars, biocides, and is an acidifierWETTING AGENT – increase ability of water to be absorbed by stems accelerates uptake of waterLecture 5Outline of Current LectureI. TemperatureII. HumidityIII. EthyleneIV. Microbial ActivityV. ChemicalsCurrent Lecture – Care and Handling – 2I. Temperature-Decreased storage temperatureoDecreases respiration and transpirationoDelays senescenceoLonger vase life-Ideal temperature varies with flower species (~35-40ºF) – for non-tropical flowersII. Humidity-Conserves water loss-Relative humidity of 90%-Spray flowers with water bottle to increase relative humidityIII. Ethylene-Remove dying flowers to reduce sources of ethylene – remove unhealthy tissue-Hastens maturing process-SymptomsoPremature wiltingoAgingoDropping of leaves and flowersoYellowing of foliage-Keep storage area cleanoLow temps 40º and below help slow processIV. Microbial Activity-Reduces vase life – plugs stem-Good sanitation is essentialoDisinfect with bleachoRemove lower foliage HORT 203 1st EditionV. Chemicals-Floral preservative (sugar, disinfectant, acid)-Long-tem solution-Used at every level of grower-consumer chain-Increases flower size/color-Reduce odor-SUGARS – nutrition-BIOCIDES – kill microorganisms – bleach-ACIDIFIER – reduce pH – citric acidoSprite has sugars, biocides, and is an acidifier-WETTING AGENT – increase ability of water to be absorbed by stems accelerates uptake of
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