Effect of water temperature on water uptake and vase life of different cut flowers

摘要

In the first set of experiments the effect of water temperature on water uptake by Sonia roses was investigated. After a dry period of 1 h water uptake was fastest with cold (0℃) water. It was slowest with water at 20deg . The effect of water at 40deg was variable; sometimes as fast as with cold water, sometimes slower than with water at 20deg . Experiments with gassed and degassed water showed that not the temperature, but the extent of saturation of the water with air was responsible for the differences. The length of the dry period had no influence on these effects. There was some variability in the size of the differences between the treatments. In a second set of experiments the effect of water temperature on water uptake and the vase life of 20 different cut flower crops was determined. In some crops, which took up water very fast, temperature had no effect on the speed of water uptake. Most crops showed the fastest uptake in cold water, but the size of the effects depended on the crop. Water temperature had very little effect on vase life or bud opening.