Commercial Floriculture

Glycerin treatment

• It refers to replacing the moisture content in a flower with a mixture of glycerin and water. Here the flower is actually preserved and not dried.

Two types of glycerin treatments
1. Systemic treatment: - It allows the plant to absorb the glycerin through the stems naturally.
2. Immersion treatment: - Here glycerin is forced through the stems under pressure.
Flowers suited: - Caspia, Ming, Tree fern, Salal.

Advantages:

• Retains natural shape and flexibility
• Lasts indefinitely

Disadvantages:
• Preservation destroys natural colour/ colour changes; Therefore dyes are used to produce a wide array of choices; Dried materials will have greasy feeling.

Leaves: Maple, Bells- of-Ireland, Mexican, Orange blossom , Oak , Beech, Cherry, Eucalyptus, Magnolia, Japanese Fatsia, Mistletoe, Ferns, Mahonia, Salal, Camellia, Ivy, Rhododendron, Hydrangea

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Procedure
• Select a branch about 18 inches or less in length.
  
• Remove lower leaves and branch or split the stem end of wood materials about 4 to 6 inches to increase absorption.
  
• Make a mixture of 1 part glycerin and 2 parts warm water.
  
• Stir well and pour into glass containers.
  
• Mark the level of mixture on the containers.
  
• As the branches absorb mixture, add a reserve mixture which contains 1 part glycerin + 4 parts water to the original marked level.
  
• Soft stem takes 3-6 days for absorption whereas woody stems takes 2 to 6 weeks.
  
• Foliage colour will gradually change as glycerin is absorbed.

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