But they might buy even more if they knew the flowers would last longer once they were cut.
Help is in the works.
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers want to breed cut flowers that hold their beauty longer. The horticulturists have found that several genes determine how long cut flowers remain attractive, and they are focusing on one plant trait linked to longer-lived cut flowers. There's been almost no systematic work on breeding for plants whose flowers last longer after they are cut. Stimart became interested in the topic about 10 years ago when regulators in some European countries restricted the use of two chemical preservatives for cut flowers. The two preservatives shouldn't be confused with the packets of powder often included with cut flowers, Stimart says.