Cut flowers refers to fresh flowers harvested/cut , that have started to blossom or are 

(a) in the bud stage, which may have branches, stems and leaves to be used for decorations. 

(b) Factors affecting longevity of cut flowers 

i. Genetic factors(crop specie sand cultivar) 

ii. Environmental factors (Light,-quality, intensity and photoperiod (Most cut flower crops require well-lighted conditions. On the contrary, too high light intensities cause scorching and dropping of leaves and abscission of petals.): Temperature, relative humidity ,air quality, pressure and growing condition 

iii. Management factors: Growing media, nutrition irrigation frequency, fertilizers (High nitrogen doses should be avoided as they increase susceptibility to diseases.), insecticides presence of insect-diseases (Flowers damaged by pathogens, insects and pests also show high ethylene production resulting in poor vase-life.), growth regulators 

iv. Harvest factors: right maturity indices (Harvesting of flowers at bud stage is always preferred as their buds have long vase-life, are less sensitive to ethylene, easy to handle during storage and transport and are less prone to diseases and pests.), time of harvesting (The best time is the coolest part of the day and when there is no surface water from dew or rain on the plants.), method of harvesting (The stems should be cut with sharp knives or secateurs. Hardwood stems should always be given slanting cut to expose maximum surface are to ensure rapid water absorption.), distance from the market (Materials for preserving usually are harvested more mature than those for fresh, wholesale markets. ), consumer preferences 

v. Post Harvest Factors : Water relation (The vase life of the harvested flowers depends on water uptake. The rate of water uptake of cut flowers depends on transpiration pull, temperature and composition of solutes . Acidification of water and addition of wetting agent and flower food in the holding solution markedly improve water uptake of cut flowers.), Respiration (The rate of respiration depends on quantity of carbohydrates available in the harvested flowers, temperature and the use of certain chemicals to regulate it. With higher temperature, there is faster rate of respiration and burning of the tissue. Consequently, the life of flowers is shortened.), Relative humidity and air composition (It has, bearing on the transpiration rate. Higher the humidity in the air, less is the transpiration rate and vice-versa. Increased level of CO₂ and decreased levels of O₂ in the atmosphere prevents build-up of endogenous ethylene), Growth regulators (Postharvest life of flowers can be controlled by growth regulators. Cytokinins delay senescence of some cut flowers. Depending upon the concentrations, GA in some cases promotes longevity of flowers, while this is also used in bud opening solution. Flowers can be stored for a longer period at low temperature. The controlled atmosphere reduces respiration rates, conservation of respirable substrates during, storage, and delay in ethylene-triggered changes, Packing and transporting (Packaging ensures garden fresh of flowers to the consumers. Before packing, flowers should be dried, treated with systemic insecticides and miticides Packing must ensure protection of flowers against physical damage, water loss and external conditions detrimental to transported flowers. Boxes made of corrugated fibre boards (CFB) are good. 

(c) Cut flowers or cut inflorescence is composed of many morphological units such as sepals, petals, androecium, gynoecium, stem and often leaves. These are different in terms of morphological and physiological traits and interact with each other thus making a cut flower more complex organ. These interactions between these components influence water balance, thus, post harvest life of cut flowers is much affected. About 50% losses occur during post harvest handling so; proper care should be taken during post harvest handling. 

An ideal cut flower should remain fresh with respect to its colour, fragrance and appearance without loosing its grade for reasonable length of time. 

Post harvest handling of cut flowers 

i. Hardening: It is treatment given immediately after the harvesting of flowers by using water (preferably warm de-ionized water containing some germicide) to restore turgidity. 

ii. Pulsing or loading: It consists of placing the lower portion of cut flower stems in solution containing high percentage of sugar and germicide fo a period of few hours to two days. Specific formulations developed vary with the flower species as sucrose 2-20% for 12-48 hours at 20-27ºC and relative humidity 80-100% under 2000-2500 lux cool light. 

iii. Pre -cooling: it is the removal of field heat from cut flowers, in which temperature is brought down from 25-30 ºC to 1-2 ºC in less than an hour time. Either through hydro cooling or mechanical refrigeration. 

iv. Storing cut flowers: - Cold storage/refrigeration (wet or dry) 

• Controlled atmospheric storage (CO₂: 5-30%, Temperature: 3-10 ⁰C, low O₂) 
• Modified atmospheric storage 

Hypobaric or low pressure storage (Temperature; 2⁰C, Relative humidity-98%, Pressure- 24mm Hg or 0.1atm)