Vase Life Study Results of Cut Roses with Flower Food

Research Update January 2022, powered by FloraLife
Anil Ranwala, Ph.D. – Manager, Postharvest R&D – FloraLife

Background 

Globally, roses are the most popular cut flowers.  They are grown in many parts of the world and are often times the main flower in bouquets, especially at Valentine’s Day.  There are hundreds of different rose varieties available with different colors, shapes and opening characteristics.  Regardless of the variety, proper postharvest care is vital to keep the quality of cut roses and to maximize consumer enjoyment.  Common quality issues of roses are wilting, premature color fading and bent neck.  Research confirms that cut flower food plays a major role in maintaining the quality and increasing the longevity of flowers. 

Research

The following table presents a compilation of vase life data of different rose varieties gathered from experiments conducted at FloraLife cut flower testing facilities.  Flowers were evaluated in simulated consumer environments with 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark at 18 – 20°C / 64 – 68°F.  The data in the table compares the vase life of rose varieties when using properly mixed flower food compared to using only water.

Results

Conclusions

The data clearly shows the benefits of using flower food to maintain the quality and longevity of cut roses.   The level of benefit varied according to the variety, but all varieties benefited from flower food.  The vase life increases of using flower food versus not ranged from 19% to 123%. 

*Product availability depends upon geographical region. Check here for more information.