Floral preservative
View Patent ↗An electrochemically treated solution and method for cut flower and plant preservation, the solution having potassium, hypochlorous acid, and dissolved oxygen.
1. A solution for cut flower and plant preservation consisting of:
at least 99.5% by weight water;
an effective amount of potassium chloride;
an effective amount of but no more than 0.01% by weight hypochlorous acid, wherein the hypochlorous acid is supplied in an undissociated form; and
an effective amount of dissolved oxygen,
wherein the solution is electrochemically treated, has a total dissolved solids level of no more than 9 g/L, has a conductivity of 0.2-18 mS, has 5-600 ppm of available free chlorine equivalent, and has a pH of 4 to 6.
2. The solution of claim 1 wherein the total dissolved solids level is no more than 2.5 g/L.
3. The solution of claim 2 wherein the conductivity is 0.2-6 mS.
4. The solution of claim 1 wherein the pH is 4 to 5.
5. The solution of claim 1 wherein the available free chlorine equivalent is 25-100 ppm.
6. The solution of claim 1 wherein the solution has:
the effective amount of at least 99.5% by weight water;
the effective amount of potassium chloride is no more than 0.3% by weight;
the effective amount of hypochlorous acid is no more than 0.01% by weight; and
the effective amount of dissolved oxygen is but no more than 0.001% by weight.
7. A solution for cut flower and plant preservation consisting of:
at least 99.5% by weight water;
an effective amount of but no more than 0.25% by weight potassium chloride;
an effective amount of but no more than 0.01% by weight hypochlorous acid; and
an effective amount of but no more than 0.001% by weight dissolved oxygen,
wherein the solution is electrochemically treated and has a pH of 4 to 6 and a conductivity of 0.2-6 mS.
8. A method of extending cut flower and plant life comprising:
providing an electrochemically treated aqueous solution wherein the solution consists of potassium chloride, hypochlorous acid, dissolved oxygen, has a total dissolved solids level of no more than 9 g/L, has a conductivity of 0.2-18 mS, has 5-600 ppm of available free chlorine equivalent, and a pH of 4 to 6; and
immersing a stem in the electrochemically treated aqueous solution.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the pH is 4 to 5.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the total dissolved solids level is no more than 2.5 g/L.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the conductivity is 0.2-6 mS.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the available free chlorine equivalent is 25-125 ppm.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the solution has:
the effective amount of at least 99.5% by weight water;
the effective amount of potassium chloride is no more than 0.3% by weight;
the effective amount of hypochlorous acid is no more than 0.01% by weight; and
the effective amount of dissolved oxygen is no more than 0.001% by weight.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of immersing further comprises:
reducing turbidity and slime formation in the solution;
preserving the life of the stem and any flower attached to the stem upwards of 15 to 20 days; and
limiting mold growth and slime formation on the stem.
15. The solution of claim 7 wherein the effective amount of the potassium chloride is no more than 0.2% by weight, the pH is 4 to 5, and the conductivity is 0.4-4.4 mS.
16. The method of claim 8 wherein the pH is 4 to 5, the conductivity is 0.4-4.4 mS,
the effective amount of water is at least 99.5% by weight,
the effective amount of potassium chloride is no more than 0.2% by weight potassium chloride;
the effective amount of hypochlorous acid is no more than 0.01% by weight, and
the effective amount of dissolved oxygen is no more than 0.001% by weight.