Road transport of flowers and plants

Temperature
Cut flowers usually require low temperatures — most commonly around 0–2 °C for many species. Raising the temperature by a few degrees can shorten their shelf life and negatively affect quality. Source: Best Practice in Harvesting and Transporting Cut Flowers – MorganAgro.

In refrigerated transport for potted plants, slightly higher temperatures are often used depending on the species; for tropical and less sensitive plants, this can be around 10–12 °C. Source: Flowering Potted Plants – Cargo Handbook.

Threshold values: according to the Freshliance blog, the optimal temperature for most cut flowers is 0.6–2.8 °C (33–37 °F), and for cold-sensitive or tropical species — above ~10 °C.

Relative humidity should be maintained at 80–85% for cut flowers, which helps reduce water loss from leaves and petals. Excessive humidity (>90–93%) promotes the development of fungal diseases (e.g., Botrytis). Source: Best Practices for Shipping & Storage of Fresh Cut Flowers – FloraLife.

Potted plants usually tolerate slightly lower humidity, but it is important that the humidity is adjusted to the species and that there are no sudden fluctuations — large swings can lead to condensation and related problems.

Use of specialized carts (e.g., Danish CC carts) helps ensure stability and organization during transport.

Cargo securing: transport straps and support rods (e.g., at least 5 rods per transport) are standard to keep carts from shifting.

Packaging (boxing, cartons, films) should protect plants from mechanical damage and shocks. For cut flowers, plastic bags, protective paper, and shields for stems and leaves can be used.

Ventilation: with packaging and in refrigerated storage, it is important to ensure proper airflow to prevent the accumulation of ethylene gas or moisture.

Standards for the transport and storage of flowers — for example, a temperature range of 0–2 °C for many cut flowers, and 80–85% humidity for transport packaging.

Controlled cold chain principles — including precooling, temperature control during transport, avoiding interruptions in cooling, and monitoring temperature and humidity. Source: Sensitech – Temperature Control on the Transportation of Flowers.

Incoterms in the context of flower transport — regulations defining who is responsible for each stage of transport, risk, and insurance. This is especially important for international transport but also locally for larger orders.

Before loading: quickly cool the flowers (as soon as possible after harvest) so that the starting temperature is low.

Maintain climatic conditions throughout transport — without large fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Monitoring — use temperature/humidity recorders in the vehicle or refrigerated unit. This allows for rapid response if conditions deteriorate.

Route optimization and transport scheduling to minimize transport time and reduce stress on the plants.

Employee training — proper handling of plants during loading, unloading, and securing.