CUT ORCHID CARE

Orchid flowers are damaged mainly by two factors, temperature, and high ethylene gas concentrations.

Recommendations:

Temperature: Like all cut flowers heat must be avoided, however, remember your orchids are tropical flowers, so they should be maintained at over 54º Fahrenheit or 12º C. If your cooler is under this temperature, place orchid boxes close to the cooler door, where temperature is normally higher. If you a have a fresh room temperature it is better just to leave it outside the cooler.

Ethylene gas. The concentration of this gas in a closed packed box, increases every day, due to which reason orchids must be taken out of the box as soon as possible. This flower should be no more than 5 days in the box. Taking trays out of the master helps liberate the gas through tray holes. But this must be done after shipping to prevent cold damage during trucking.

Another helpful practice when flowers are dehydrated and soft is to submerge (deepen) the flowers for 15 minutes in cold water (50-60º F). This helps to revive and hydrate flowers. However, avoid repacking of wet flowers.

When unpacking, stems must be re-cut and placed in fresh water with a preservative. If possible, the use of warm water to place the stems will assure a better water intake, faster hydrate, and longer shelf life.