A simplified method, which utilizes a 50% senescence value (Sse) for the measurement of longevity, in cut carnation flowers is used to compare flower longevity. A pulsed treatment using a combination of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), kinetin and Triton X-100 enhanced flower vase-life relative to a water control. The mixture, however, did not exhibit synergistic effects when Sse values of the individual compounds were compared. A single AOA pulse treatment was as effective as the mixture. These findings held true for three carnation cultivars. With the exception of dihydrozeatin, which greatly enhanced longevity, replacement of kinetin by a range of cytokinins did not produce significantly different results from the AOA/Triton X-100 combination. Holding solution treatments gave similar trends as pulse treatments. &a values were better units to express longevity than Sloe values.Abbreviations: AOA = aminooxyaceticacid; BA = benzyladenine; Sso = 50% senescence value; STS = silverthiosulphate; iP = isopentenyladenine; Z = zeatin; DHZ = dihydrozeatin.