Glycerol is used as a humectant to maintain the suppleness of preserved ornamental plant material. This study determined the effects of glycerol concentration, ionic strength, pH, biocides, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and postharvest treatments (prewilting and stem fraying) on glycerol uptake in cut foliage of Eucalyptus marginata, Daviesia cordata and Leucopogon verticillatus and cut inflorescences of Anigozanthos rufus. The volume of solution taken up decreased as glycerol concentration was increased from 10% to 30% (v/v). However, the amount of glycerol accumulated by plant tissue increased with increasing concentration. Addition of 10 or 100 mM NaCl or KCl to the glycerol solution increased glycerol uptake by about 10%. Varying pH (2 to 8) of the glycerol solution had no differential effect on uptake. Soluble biocides (sodium dichloroisocyanurate, copper sulphate and benzalkonium chloride) did not affect glycerol solution uptake. However, poorly soluble fungicide mixtures (benomyl + iprodione + furalaxyl and propiconazole + propamocarb + procymidone) blocked the stems. Maintenance of a large VPD greatly enhanced glycerol solution uptake. Prewilting the foliage for 12 h increased the initial rate of solution uptake. Stem fraying did not increase uptake of glycerol solution.