Effective Solutions for Extending Vase Life in Cut Gerbera Flowers

One of the critical quality criteria in cut flower marketing is vase life. The neck bending issue observed in gerbera flowers can substantially reduce vase life. This study aimed to identify effective vase solutions to prolong the vase life in the ‘Yeliz’ and ‘Rosalin’ gerbera varieties. Seven different vase solutions were evaluated: sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DICA), sodium hypochlorite (klorak), sodium hypochlorite + sucrose, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC), perlan + sodium hypochlorite, and perplex + sodium hypochlorite and potable water (Ks: control). Parameters such as vase life, total and daily solution uptake, relative fresh weight, and microbial density in vase solutions were assessed. Vase life ranged from 8.33 to 13.22 days for the ‘Yeliz’ variety and from 10.00 to 14.67 days for the ‘Rosalin’ variety. DICA provided the longest vase life for both varieties among the seven different vase solutions. All vase solutions except for flowers in control improved relative fresh weight within the first 3 days. DICA was also the most effective in reducing microbial density in the vase solutions. Furthermore, all treatments significantly reduced microbial density compared to the control. The findings suggest that substances such as DICA, perlan, and perplex could serve as viable alternatives in vase solutions for extending the vase life of gerbera flowers.