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Baby's Breath, Gypsophilia

Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality

baby's breath027
Michael S. Reid

Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

Maturity & Quality

Description

Gypsophila paniculata. A favorite for use in bouquets and dried flower arrangements, gypsophila is most often field grown. The flowers are sensitive to water deficit and intense sunlight, and will brown and shrivel easily if subjected to these stress conditions. On the other hand, damp or rainy conditions increase the risk of gray mold (Botrytis) and Phytophthora root rot. Gypsophila is Greek for ‘gypsum-loving’ in reference to this species’ good growth performance in high calcium soils.

Quality Indices

Gypsophila plants produce flowers on large panicles whose individual flowers open over a considerable time period. Flowering stems are usually cut 20–40 cm long. The degree of maturity at harvest is determined by whether the flowers are intended for the fresh market or for dried arrangements. Stems are cut when 50% of the flowers are open if they are to be placed in a drying solution immediately or marketed within 24 hours. Stems are cut when 20 to 30% of the flowers are open if they are to be dried later or held longer than 24 hours. Purchase gypsophila that has plenty of unopened buds, shows no signs of water stress, wilting, or disease (brown florets).

Grading and Bunching

Stems are gathered into field bunches using rubber bands or ties to secure the cut ends. Bunches from California are sold as bunches with 5 to 25 stems whereas gypsophila from South America comes in bunches weighing 300 grams.

Ethylene Sensitivity

Exposure to ethylene causes wilting of open flowers and sleepiness of opening buds.

Pretreatments

Gypsophila responds best to pretreatment with STS, which protects not only the open florets but also the developing buds. Gypsophila flowers treated with STS and held in a solution containing Physan® will maintain excellent display life for several weeks, as new buds open on the panicle. However, STS sometimes offers little benefit because stem blockage prevents uptake. Make sure the stems are rinsed and re-cut underwater prior to placement in STS.

Storage Conditions

Store at 0-1°C in high (90%) relative humidity to reduce flower and stem desiccation. Because Botrytis can be a serious problem, florists should ask suppliers—or be prepared themselves — to treat with appropriate fungicides. Stems with about 50% of their flowers open can be kept in a preservative solution (200 ppm Physan) at 1°C for up to 3 weeks.

Packing

Gypsophila may be packed in horizontal boxes or hampers. Thirty bunches are packed in a standard box.

Special Considerations

Gypsophila harvested in the bud stage (5% of flowers open) can be opened to excellent quality in a bud-opening solution containing 200 ppm Physan-20 and 5 to 10% sucrose. Flowers should be held at about 20°C, 50% R.H., and with light levels of about 15 mmol.m-2.sec-1 PAR (use cool-white fluorescent lamps). For drying gypsophila, a solution containing 1 part glycerine to 2 parts water should be used. Cut stems are then dried by hanging bunches upside down in a warm dry environment.

Date

October 2004

Use of Materials

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Except for these specified uses, no part of the textual materials available on the UC Postharvest Technology Center Web site may be copied, downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, further transmitted or otherwise reproduced, stored, disseminated, transferred or used, in any form or by any means, except as permitted herein or with the University of California's prior written agreement. Request permission from UC Postharvest Technology Center. Distribution for commercial purposes is prohibited.

The information in this fact sheet represents our best understanding of the current state of knowledge at the time of the latest update, and does not represent an exhaustive review of all research results. Links to any of these UC Postharvest Technology Center pages are permitted, but no endorsement of the linking site or products mentioned in the linking page is intended or implied by such a link.

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).

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