Ethylene is a colourless, odourless gas found within all plants. It is a vital plant hormone responsible for various processes such as ripening, flowering and senescence. Whilst vital for growth, it also accelerates the ageing process, shortening the life of cut flowers. In fact, cutting the flower from the plant causes a surge of ethylene to be produced as the plant tissue is damaged. Additionally, ethylene is found in tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust emissions, which can obviously impact any cut flowers placed outside shops on busy streets.
