Author : Khanitta Duangsonk

Summary : The vase life of chrysanthemum as a function of pre-harvest factors such as nitrogen-potassium (N-K) foliar spray, plant spacing, and stage of flower maturity at harvest was evaluated. N-K solution was applied at 0, 150, and 300 ppm each. Plants were set at 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20, cm and 25 x 25 cm apart. The flowers were harvested at 25, 50, and 75 percent bloom. Plant height decreaased with plant spacing while the reverse trend was eshibited by the length and width of leaves. The application of N-K solution increased the number of leaves per plant. The level of 150 ppm N-K significantly increased vase life. Close spacing (15 x 15 cm) resulted in smaller flowers of longer decorative value. Blooms harvested for 15 x 15 cm and 20 x 20 cm spacing had an average vase life of 9.3 days while those from 25 x 25 cm was 8.7 days. Flowers harvested when younger (25 to 50 percent bloom) had highly significant longer vase life (9.7 days) than older ones (75 percent bloom at 8.7 days). Bigger flowers and those from plants with wider and longer leaves had shorter vase life.