Flowers should be placed in cold storage as soon after harvesting as possible. They should be refrigerated during surface transport and during holding periods at the wholesaler and retailer. Serious damage occurs when flowers are left on a heated loading dock at the motor or air freight terminal or when they are left sitting in a hot warehouse for a day or so. The harmful effect of ethylene. Fruits, especially apples, give off large quantities of ethylene gas, making it inadvisable to store lunches containing fruits in coolers.
Ethylene is evolved from plant tissue, particularly injured and old plant tissue.
The cooler should be kept clean of plant debris such as cut stems and leaves that might accumulate on the floor. Old unsalable flowers should be discarded. Ethylene gas has many deleterious effects. Generally it causes premature deterioration of flowers. Ethylene can cause flower wilting and is generally not reversible.