The Effects of Freezing Flowers

Temperature

• Flowers can usually tolerate temperatures that hover around the freezing point: 32 degrees. However, a 4-degree drop below freezing can cause serious adverse effects, and the longer temperatures stay low, the higher the likelihood of damage or destruction.

Physical Characteristics

• As flowers freeze the cell walls rupture, causing the bloom to collapse. Freezing of flowers is evident by a change in the color of the center from brown to black, and the flower may drop from the plant.

Freeze-Drying

• Costing $250 or more, freeze-drying combines vacuum pressure and minus 20 degree temperatures to preserve arrangements such as bridal bouquets. Flowers retain many of their original qualities and are suitable for display.

Pollination

• When fruit and vegetable flowers are destroyed by freezing temperatures, the result is fewer flowers available for pollination. This can cause plants to produce few or no fruit.

Fun Fact

• A short-term way to preserve flowers is in ice cubes. Enhance cold beverages by putting a few petals or small blooms from non-toxic edible flowers into each space of an ice cube tray; fill the tray with water and freeze.