Method for preserving flowers particularly roses

Abstract: Method for preserving natural flowers, in which the lower end of the stem of the flower is immersed into a water/glycerol solution of a dry composition comprising mineral salts, citric acid and dyes, characterized in that the flower to be treated is severed from the upper end of its stem so that the remaining section of said stem still connected to the flower is shorter than 5 cm and preferably of about 1 cm so that the path of said solution towards the flower be as short as possible.

Description: In prior patents (F-85 11992 and F-85 16264) the applicant has described a process and a composition for treating plants in view of keeping their aspect and their natural freshness during an extended period of time after being extracted from their natural environment. The process consisted in immersing the newly cut lower portion of the stem of the plant into a specific solution containing a number of mineral salts and of dyes in a mixture of water and glycerol during a given duration and at a given temperature. This process and this composition were effective in keeping the freshness of many plants and bushes : after treatment the stems and leaves of said plants kept during many months and even years the aspect and the touch of the fresh plants before treatment. One critical feature of said compositions was its content in citric acid, which was of 4-5%, allowing a proportion of glycerol up to 40% and a treatment temperature at 38-45°C, said conditions being more favourable than the conditions of still older known similar processes. However, even with said conditions, this process was still difficult to work in case of some flowers such as roses, having specially delicate petals as well as a fragile structure such as the overall shape and even a transient scent. The further works of the applicant have reached to a modification of this process specially adapted to this specific product and more specially to the treatment of roses. The invention has therefore as a first object a process of the above general nature but adapted to the preservation treatment of fragile flowers and more specifically of roses. It has also for object a dry composition specially adapted to the use in this process and a liquid solution obtained from said composition. It has also for object the flowers, the freshness, the aspect and the scent thereof have been preserved by the use of said process, and more specially the roses. According to the present invention, a method for preserving natural flowers, in which the lower end of the stem of the flower is immersed into a water/glycerol solution of a dry composition comprising 25/40%, preferably 30% of potassium nitrate, 2-6%, preferably 4% of sodium sulphate, 6-10%, preferably 8% of manganese sulphate monohydrate, 2-6%, preferably 4% of calcium hydrogen phosphate and 2-5%, preferably 4% of citric acid, and the remaining 30-60%, preferably 50% comprising at least one dye selected amongst Tartazine (E102), Patent Blue (E131), Patent Green (ES11 or FD & CN°3), Amaranth Red (E123), Quinoleeine Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow (E110), Ponceau 4 R (E124), and Wool Green (E142), the treatment solution comprising about 25g/l of said dry composition dissolved in a mixture water/glycerol in a proportion between 75/25 and 55/45. Such a method is characterized in that the flower to be treated is severed from the upper end of its stem so that the remaining section is shorter than 5 cm and preferably 1 cm, said remaining section being immersed into said solution at a temperature between 33 and 44°C during 3 to 7 days, at room temperature between 22 and 28°C and at a relative humidity less than 65%, said remaining section being afterwards kept upside down during 4 weeks, at a temperature comprised between 20 and 30°C and at a relative humidity less than 60%, then assembled with a stem also previously treated by said method. Preferably the assembly is made by glueing a pin inserted at its both ends into the remaining stem of the flower and into the stem to be assembled. The stem to be assembled has been treated by a solution containing a different dye so as to obtain leaves of a different color. The claimed solution is contained in a perforated tube receiving the stem section and in which it constantly slowly circulates. The method according to the present invention is particularly directed to the treatment of roses. The process of the invention in its application to roses comprises the following steps : 1 - Sever the rose at the upper end of its stem, the remaining section being shorter than 5 cm and preferably of about 1 cm. 2 - Immerse said section into the solution, said solution being slowly circulated in a perforated tube serving to support the flower, the temperature of said solution being between 33 and 44° C. 3 - Continue said immersion during 3-7 days at room temperature of 22-28° C and at a relative humidity less than 65%. 4 - At the end of this period, hang the treated flower upside down during 4 weeks at room temperature between 20 and 30° C and a relative humidity less than 60%. 5 - Connect the treated flower with a stem, preferably a treated stem with leaves, through a glued rod or pin. The treated roses fully keep their freshness and their scent during a very long period, of at least on year. To obtain specific visual effects, the stem which is assembled to the treated flower can be itself treated with the same process but using a different dye so that the leaves are of a different color. It is clear that this process is specially directed to the treatment of roses but can be used for any flowers having preferably strong petals such as those forming the families of MATRICARIA and PROTEA and also different wild flowers of the APIACEAE family.

Claims: Method for preserving natural flowers, in which the lower end of the stem of the flower is immersed into a water/glycerol solution of a dry composition comprising 25/40%, preferably 30% of potassium nitrate, 2-6 preferably 4% of sodium sulphate, 6-10%, preferably 8% of manganese sulphate monohydrate, 2-6%, preferably 4% of calcium hydrogen phosphate and 2-5%, preferably 4% of citric acid, and the remaining 30-60%, preferably 50% comprising at least one dye selected amongst Tartazine (E102), Patent Blue (E131), Patent Green (ES11 or FD & CN°3), Amaranth Red (E123), Quinoleeine Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow (E110), Ponceau 4 R (E124), and Wool Green (E142), the treatment solution comprising 25 g/l of said dry composition dissolved in a mixture water/glycerol in a proportion between 75/25 and 55/45, characterized in that the flower to be treated is severed from the upper end of its stem so that the remaining section is shorter than 5 cm and preferably cm, said remaining section being immersed into said solution at a temperature between 33 and 44°C during 3 to 7 days, at room temperature between 22 and 28°C and at a relative humidity less than 65%, said remaining section being afterwards kept upside down during 4 weeks, at a temperature comprised between 20 and 30°C and at a relative humidity less than 60%, then assembled with a stem also previously treated by said method. Method according to claim 1, in which said assembly is made by glueing a pin inserted at its both ends into the remaining stem of the flower and into the stem to be assembled. Method according to claim 1, in which the stem to be assembled has been treated by a solution containing a different dye so as to obtain leaves of a different color, Method according to claim 1, in which the solution is contained in a perforated tube receiving the stem section and in which said solution constantly slowly circulates. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the flower to be treated is a Rose.

Inventors: SELLEGAARD LARS E, SELLEGAARD, LARS E.
Applicants: SELLEGAARD LARS E, SELLEGAARD, LARS E.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A01N3
IPC codes: A01N3