FREESIA Botanical Name Freesia x cvs. Ethylene Sensitivity The open florets on freesia inflorescences are not affected by exposure to ethylene, but the effects of this gas are seen in the young buds, which fail to develop or become malformed. Pretreatments Pre-treatment with 1-MCP or STS pulse pre-treatment is effective in preventing abortion of small buds on the inflorescence. Freesias can be pulsed for 18 hours in the dark with a fresh flower food solution containing 25% sucrose. Pulsing should be carried out at about 70ยบF and 85% R.H. This treatment will increase flower size, percentage of flowers that open, and vase life.
Native to South Africa, the single or double flowers range in colors from yellow, orange, red, bronze, to purple. Some cultivars retain the delightful fra-
Storage Conditions Freesia should be stored at 33-35ยบF. Vase Solution Requirements Freesias respond best to fresh flower food solutions when harvested with very little or no flower color showing. Do not prepare vase solutions with fluoridated water (most public water systems contain fluoride) as this can reduce flower development and cause leaf tip burn. If stems are cut before the first flower is open and showing color, the flowers will not open sufficiently in water. Immature stems should be held in a fresh flower food solution containing 4% sugar under cool conditions (5068ยบF)) to open flowers to the desired stage. Fresh flower foods containing aluminum sulfate alleviate, but do not completely prevent S A F ย F L OW E R & P L A N T C A R E
grances that are common in garden freesias. The genus was named for Dr. Freese (17851876), a native of Kiel, Germany and a student of South African plants.
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