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Green-seeds.com:
flowers & ornamentals: articles
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 Anthurium
Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality
Michael
S. Reid and Linda Dodge Department of Environmental Horticulture,
University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Description
The
elegant blooms of this tropical aroid are produced and sold throughout
the world. The true flowers are found on the "spadix", the upright organ
in the center of the "spathe", which is the decorative petal-like organ
surrounding the spadix. Although anthuriums are sensitive to low temperatures,
they have a long vase life when properly handled. The end of their vase
life is usually the result of inability to draw water from the vase solution,
and is associated with loss of glossiness and then blueing of the spathe.
Most of the water lost by the flower evaporates from the spadix. Application
of wax, to prevent this water loss, or pulsing with silver nitrate, to
improve water relations of the flower, can extend their vase life considerably.
Maturity
The proportion of open flowers on the spadix determines the maturity of
anthurium flowers. In immature anthuriums, the spadix is smooth. Flower
opening starts at the base of the spadix and proceeds upwards; spadices
with open flowers are noticeably rough. Although producers in some countries
harvest anthuriums when as little as 20% (1/5) of the spadix is rough,
Hawaiian growers harvest flowers when only 1/4 of the spadix is still
smooth (3/4 of the flowers are therefore open). Harvesting anthuriums
when more mature increases overall vase life.
Harvesting
The flowers are removed from the plant using shears.
Grading
Although there are no formal grade standards for anthuriums, top quality
implies long stems, uniformity of color and size, proper maturity, glossiness
of the  spathe,
and freedom from any damage or disease.
Pre-treatments
Hawaiian researchers recommend pretreatment to increase the vase life
of anthuriums, but we have found that some cultivars (e.g. 'Osaki') achieve
maximum vase life with dionized water (DI) alone. The pre-treatments suggested
are: Pulse the re-cut stems for 10 to 20 minutes in 1000 ppm silver nitrate.
(Rinse the stems with fresh water after the treatment), OR Dip the whole
flower in an emulsion of Carnuba wax. One suitable product is FMC Wax
819. Use a 3% dilution of the wax. After dipping, place the flower stems
in water while the wax dries.
Chemical Solutions
Pre-treated flowers are not harmed by vase preservatives but derive no
additional benefit from them. Anthuriums can have a vase life of up to
3 weeks if properly treated. Even after a week of storage, vase life can
be adequate, if proper techniques are used to handle the flowers. It seems
reasonable that vase life problems are associated with bacterial contamination
of the cut stem bases. If anthuriums are placed in water after harvest,
a biocide (e.g. 50 ppm hypochlorite) should be added.
Packing
Anthuriums are normally packaged individually. They are commonly packed
in moist shredded newsprint or other shredded paper. Major damage during
transportation is the result of spadices puncturing the spathe of neighboring
flowers in the pack. Many producers now sheathe the flowers in small plastic
bags and pack the anthuriums more densely in the box.
Chilling Injury
Anthuriums are very sensitive to "chilling" injury. Holding the flowers
for any length of time at temperatures below 10° C (50° F) will induce
purpling, browning, and then necrosis. Anthuriums should therefore never
be pre-cooled with other flowers, nor held in low temperature cool-rooms.
Storage
Anthuriums shipped in mixed loads at low temperatures should be protected
from chilling exposure by appropriate insulation (for example wrapping
the flowers in newsprint and packing them in an insulated box). Anthurium
flowers can be stored for at least one week if packed in moist shredded
newsprint and held at 16° C (60° F).
Ethylene Sensitivity
Based on the lack of response of these flowers to treatment with STS,
it appears that they are not particularly sensitive to ethylene.
Rates of Respiration
Remain to be determined.
Response to CA
Anthuriums respond favorably to storage in a controlled atmosphere. Vase
life was increased by 50% when flowers were stored in air at 13° C (55°
F) or in 2% oxygen at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing injury
Since even brief storage at temperatures below 10° C (50° F) results in
chilling injury, freezing injury is not a major issue. Temperatures below
0.5° (23° F) will result in freezing injury water soaking of the spathe,
and collapse of the spadix.
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