Ornamentals Produce Facts English
Orchids
Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality
![]() Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Maturity & Quality
Description Cattleya, Cymbidium, cvs. and hybrids. Additional genera in the plant family Orchidaceae are Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda and Paphiopedilum. In addition to their exotic forms and colors, one of the principal attractions of cut orchid flowers is their outstanding longevity. Even out of water, an orchid flower will last for an evening in a corsage. Spikes of cymbidiums will often last a month in a vase. Orchid flowers are usually harvested 3 to 4 days after opening, because flowers cut prematurely will fail to develop normally off the plant. Early and late in the season, individual flowers are cut from the spike as they develop, because prices are high at these times. In mid-season, the whole spike is cut. Virus diseases can be spread from plant to plant during harvest, so cutting tools should be sterilized before being used on the next plant or disposable razor blades should be used. As individual flowers, purchase when fully opens. Spikes should be purchased when at least two flowers per spike are open. There are no formal grade standards for orchids. Freedom from defects is a primary measure of quality. Some genera (e.g. Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis) are very sensitive to ethylene; others (e.g. Dendrobium) are less sensitive. Pretreatment with 1-MCP is very effective in preventing the effects of ethylene and increasing the life of orchid flowers, and should be standard practice for these flowers. Can range from 0 to 12.5ºC depending on cultivar. Many cultivars are not chill sensitive and therefore can be stored as other cut flowers at 0-1ºC. If feasible, leaving flowers on the plants at room temperature is a good storage procedure. Be careful not to remove or knock off the pollinia (anthers) as this causes an immediate surge in ethylene production, which, in turn, causes premature death. Because of their fragility and relatively high value, most orchids are packed as individual flowers or spikes, frequently in shredded paper to cushion and protect them from mechanical injury to the blooms. They are then packed 12 to 24 flowers in each carton. Box inserts hold the individual water tubes stationary. Shredded wax paper is tucked around and between the flowers for additional protection. Only some species and cultivars are ethylene sensitive which explains why anti-ethylene treatments like STS and 1-MCP work only some of the time. The two most common ethylene-induced symptoms are flower discoloration and premature wilting and flower fall. Demand has increased for this species prepared as a corsage and sold through mass market outlets at Easter and Mothers’ Day. When sold for corsages the use of water picks filled with fresh-flower solution (not plain tap water) is beneficial.
Date
October 2004 |
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How to Cite
Author(s) names. Initial publication or update date (located at the top). Title. Link to the specific Produce Fact Sheet webpage (Accessed date)
Example: Cantwell, M. and T. Suslow. 2002. Lettuce, Crisphead: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality.
http://ucanr.edu/sites/Postharvest_Technology_Center_/Commodity_Resources/Fact_Sheets/Datastores/Vegetables_English/?uid=19&ds=799 (Accessed January 18, 2014).