Specialty Cut Flower Research Articles

350 VASE-LIFE DETERMINATION OF SIX SPECIALTY CUT FLOWER SPECIES

The postharvest attributes of six specialty cut flower species were studied. First year results indicate that Achillea filipendulina `Coronation Gold' had a vase-life of 10.7 days in deionized water (DI) and can be stored one week at 1.7°C and shipped for one day. Buddeleia davidii (Butterfly Bush) had a vase life of 3.8 days in DI water and tolerated two weeks of cold storage and two days of shipping. Celosia plumosa `Forest Fire' (Plume Celosia) had a vase-life of 5.9 days in DI water and tolerated 2 days of shipping. Cercis canadensis (Redbud) had a vase-life of 9 days in DI water and tolerated one day of shipping. Echinacea purpurea `Bright Star' (Purple Coneflower) had a vase-life of 4.6 days in DI water and tolerated 2 weeks of storage and five days of shipping. Helianthus maximilianii (Maximillian Sunflower) had a vase-life of 6.3 days in DI water and tolerated one week of storage. In addition, silver thiosulfate and 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate increased vase-life of Buddeleia davidii, Celosia plumosa, Echinacea purpurea, and Helianthus maximilianii.

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF SPECIALTY CUT FLOWERS

Specialty cut flowers or “old fashion garden flowers” include all decorative plant materials except roses, mums and carnations. These were commonly found in the trade over fifty years ago, but lost favor because of short vase lives and a centralization of flower production in the country and a movement of it overseas. We are now seeing a resurgence of specialty cut flower production but have a generation or two of consumers who are unfamiliar with them. The purpose of this study was to acquaint consumers with various specialty cut flowers and evaluate their acceptance. Small desk size bouquets and large bouquets were evaluated, which was done once a week for four weeks. Each week the shape and form of the bouquets changed as did the plant material. Over ninety percent of the respondents said they would include specialty cut flowers in their next flower purchases but were non committal about a preference of them over traditional cut flowers. The large bouquets seemed to produce the greatest impact but both sizes seemed to improve the work environment.

COMPETITIVE EFFECT OF TURFGRASS AISLES ON PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF FIELD-GROWN ZINNIAS

Field production of specialty cut flowers has become of increasing interest during the last few years. A production system consisting of permanent bed planting as opposed to planting as a single row crop is common. Aisle management is an important component of this system. A vegetative aisle cover affords product quality enhancement and improved labor and equipment utilization throughout the field. This study compared the competitive effect on zinnia yields and flower quality between bare ground and five turfgrass species planted in the aisles. Plots surrounded by bare ground had higher yields and better quality than the turfgrass plots. Annual ryegrass had the greatest competitive effect on flower production and quality of the five turfgrass species studied.

PRODUCTIVITY OF FIELD-GROWN SPECIALTY CUT FLOWERS

The objective was to determine the productivity and profitability of field-grown specialty cut flowers. Productivity and profitability of cut flowers were based on yield and stem length measurements. Two 54 m2 beds were planted with 20 annual cut flower species and two beds with 20 perennial species. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with 16 plants per species in each block. Total number of flower stems per replication produced by annual species ranged from 35 to 1946. Percentage of productive plants was 100% for most of the annual species. The total number of flower stems harvested per productive plant ranged from 4 to 122 and bunches of flowers per 0.09 m2 varied from less than 1 to 12. Income estimates per 0.09 m2 indicated some species were highly profitable. Total number of flower stems per replication produced by perennial species ranged from 8 to 1501. Seven species of perennials did not bloom. The 3 perennial species with the greatest total number of flower stems harvested had 100% of the plants in production during the growing season and a greater total number of flower stems harvested per productive plant. Only four perennial species showed a positive income estimate per 0.09 m2. Percent mortality had an effect on productivity and was greater overall for the perennial species than the annual species. The lower overhead associated with field production coupled with highly productive species proved to be profitable.

VASELIFE OF ZINNIAS UNDER LOW-TECH CONDITIONS

When alternative crops are first introduced, prospective growers often lack the expertise and capitol to enter traditional market channels. Farmers' markets often become the initial market for the crop in its' introductory phase. Postharvest handling practices, requiring significant capitol investment and intense management typically are not economically feasable for the small producer. Little work has been done to provide information on practices to prolong vaselife of specialty cut flowers under less than ideal commercial conditions. A study was conducted to determine the vaselife of field grown zinnias using readily available products for preservatives, no precooling and less than optimum storage and handling practices. Flowers held in a 68 ppm bleach solution had an acceptable vase life of 6.6 days compared to water at 5.7 days and commercial preservative at 8.6 days.

INFLUENCE OF PHOTOPERIOD AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF CRASPEDIA UNIFLORA.

Flowers of Craspedi a uniflora (Billy Buttons), a New Zealand annual plant, have been introduced recently into the U.S.A. florist market. Craspedia is relatively unknown in the U.S.A., but is beginning to be utilized by florists as a cut flower and has potential for specialty cut flower production. Craspedia uniflora cut flowers were grown from seed in an inflated, double-layer, polyethylene greenhouse. Short day (SD) and long day (LD) photoperiod treatments were applied by daylength reduction via black cloth and night interruption lighting, respectively. Treatments began 10 weeks after sowing (15 leaf stage) and continued until harvest. Gibberellic acid was applied as a single foliar spray to runoff at 0 and 500 mg·liter-1 at initiation of photoperiod treatment. Long day treatment reduced days to anthesis, increased flower number, and decreased stem length and plant fresh weight. Gibberellic acid (500 mg·liter-1) increased foliage height under both photo period treatments and increased plant dry weight under LD but reduced dry weight under SD treatment. Flower fresh weight, diameter and bud number were not affected by treatment.

Specialty Cut Flower Production Guides for Florida: Sunflower

One of the four native American commercial crops of global importance, sunflowers are grown for oil seed, snack seed, birdseed, and garden flowers. In addition, they are now widely grown for cut flower production as a specialty cut flower. Sunflowers are drought tolerant, grow in full sun, and grow in a wide range of soil conditions as annuals and perennials. They are used in the landscape for borders, screening, or in containers. Many cultivars are available in colors that range from yellow to bronze, red, or cream. New cultivars have been introduced especially for bedding and cut flower use, as the familiar old cultivars and agronomic oil seed typesare not well suited for these purposes. With proper cultivar selection, the flowering season in Florida is long and limited only by freezing temperatures. This document is ENH885, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date February 23, 2003.