For Dendranthema vase life was 24.6 d when held in preservative atan EC of 2.50 dS m−1, while it was reduced to 17.4 d without preservative at the same EC. For Helianthus,solutions with preservative had a solution uptake 10 mL greater than solutions without preservative. Ingeneral, stems with longer vase lives also had a high incidence of necrotic leaves and petals, petal wiltand bent neck. In conclusion, each species had unique reactions to the vase solution treatments, but thegeneral effects were consistent: high solution pH or EC or the use of buffers either had no effect or reducedvase life and the use of floral preservatives increased vase life