Increasing Flowering Potted Plant Longevity Progress Report — September 1994
Date August 17, 1994
Title of Project Increasing Flowering Potted Plant Longevity
Institution where work is being conducted University of Florida
Amount of Endowment Grant $ 12,000
Covering Period 1/94 to 12/94
Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report 12 December 1996
Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)
Terril A. Nell - Title Professor
Telephone number (904) 392-1829
Jim Barrett - Title Professor
Increasing Flowering Potted Plant Longevity
Terril A. Nell and James E. Barrett
University of Florida
- A. Project Obiectives:
- To evaluate the production, transport and retail conditions which increase the longevity offlowering potted plants.
- B. Summary of Work Completed:
- 1. Fertilizer termination was evaluated on potted carnation and elatior begonia.
- 2. Elatior begonia and carnation were produced to marketable stage, placed into sleeves, boxedand held for 3 days to 9 days at 35 to 65′F to evaluate shipping tolerances.
- 3. Flowering potted roses (Red Minimo) were treated with low ethylene levels for 1-4 days, thenmaintained in an ethylene free environment. Longevity, leaf and bud drop were monitored
throughout the treatment and postproduction periods.
- C. Results to Date:
- 1. Continuous fertilization until flowering did not reduce longevity or interior performance ofcarnations and begonias.
- 2. Carnations and Begonias can tolerate a wide range of shipping conditions with no effect onpostproduction performance.
- 3. Roses lost less than 10% of the flowers when held at 80ppb ethylene or less for no more than2 days. Higher ethylene levels increase flower and bud drop. Open flowers were more
susceptible to ethylene than buds.
- D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:
- 1. Longevity of Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, and Cyclamen will be evaluated following fertilizer, transportand interior treatments.
- E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:
- Results from these studies will allow all segments of the industry to provide higher quality,longer-lasting flowering potted plants to consumers.
- F. Additional Information/Publications:
- 1. Armellini Express Lines is providing transportation again this year. Their support is a real assetto this research program.
- 2. An additional Technical Service Bulletin is being written on results from the non-rooting roombulbs.
