Commercial Floriculture

Conditioning and pre-cooling of cut flowers

• Conditioning referred to placing of stem cut ends in water immediately after harvest to avoid water stress;
  
• Generally conditioning is done by placing stem ends immersed in warm water at room temperature for short duration and overnight in the cool room.
• Pre-cooling referred to subjecting flowers under cold storage conditions immediately after harvest to brings down the respiration rate and field heat and ultimately to enhance the vase life and quality of cut flowers.
  
• The pre-cooling temperature varies with the species and cultivars.