| abstract |
The present invention is a method of preserving plants which achieves reduced bleeding of the preservative material when the plants are subjected to elevated humidity conditions. The method comprises perfusing the plants with an aqueous preservative composition in which the preservative is primarily an alkylene oxide oligomer, 1,3-butanediol, or 1,4-butanediol. Preferred alkylene oxide oligomers are di- and polyethylene glycols in the molecular weight range of about 200-1500 and di- and polypropylene glycols with an average molecular weight below about 450. The preferred materials may be used with lesser amounts of secondary humectant materials selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride or magnesium bromide hexahydrate, and water soluble cycle phosphonate esters. Plants are conventionally treated by perfusing an aqeous treatment solution into the vascular system through a cut stem or other incision which exposes the xylem. Treatment is carried out at a temperature in the range of 20°-50° C. at a relative humidity in the range of about 20%-80% for a period time up to about 14 days. |