If you like fresh flowers in your home there is good news. A new study concludes that MMS(Chlorine Dioxide) extends the life of cut flowers, in some cases up to 77 percent longer. Normally an accumulation of bacteria builds up in the vase water causing premature aging of the flowers. But just a few drops of activated MMS added to the vase water helps prevent the bacteria from accumulating. Depending on how often you have fresh flowers in your home the cost savings is significant. Treatment with chlorine dioxide extends the vase life of selected cut flowers

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Andrew J. Macnish, a, , Ria T. Leonarda and Terril A. Nella

aDepartment of Environmental Horticulture, PO Box 110670, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Received 24 February 2008; accepted 27 April 2008. Available online 20 June 2008.

Abstract
The accumulation of bacteria in vase water is often associated with premature senescence in many cut flower species. In the present study, we tested the efficacy of aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to extend flower display life by preventing the build-up of bacteria in vase solutions. The addition of 2 or 10 μL L−1 ClO2 to clean deionized water extended the vase life of Alstroemeria peruviana ‘Senna’, Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomic Pink’, Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Pasha’, Gerbera jamesonii ‘Monarch’, Gypsophila paniculata ‘Crystal’ and ‘Perfecta’, Lilium asiaticum ‘Vermeer’, Matthiola incana ‘Ruby Red’ and Rosa hybrida ‘Charlotte’ flowers by 0.9–13.4 d (7–77%) relative to control (i.e. 0 μL L−1 ClO2) stems. The beneficial effects of ClO2 treatment were associated with a reduction in the accumulation of aerobic bacteria in vase water and on cut surfaces of flower stems. ClO2 treatment was also effective in maintaining or extending the vase life of A. majus ‘Potomic Pink’, Dendrathema × grandiflorum ‘Albatron’, G. paniculata ‘Perfecta’ and M. incana ‘Ruby Red’ flowers even when stems were placed into water containing 1011 CFU L−1 bacteria. The efficacy of 10 μL L−1 ClO2 in vase water containing 0.2 g L−1 citric acid and 10 g L−1 sucrose to extend the display life of G. jamesonii ‘Lorca’ and ‘Vilassar’ flowers was equal to or greater than other tested biocides (i.e. aluminum sulfate, dichloroisocyanuric acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, Physan 20™, sodium hypochlorite). Taken collectively, the results of the present study highlight the potential of aqueous ClO2 for use as an alternative antibacterial agent in flower vase solutions.

Keywords: Bacteria; Chlorine dioxide (ClO2); Cut flowers; 8-Hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS); Vase life; Vase solution

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.04.008