The percentage of buds opening and flower longevity as affected by the availability of water and sucrose to out spikes of gladiolus were studied. Uptake of sucrose solution and fresh weight changes in spikes were dependent on sucrose concentration. Marked reduction in uptake and fresh weight occurred when polyethylene glycol (peg) was used as the stressing agent. In comparison.peg failed to induce any significant change in the percentage of flower buds opening. Sucrose was essential for opening since the buds that failed to open in the control were caused to open in sucrose. Induced water stress did not curtail flower longevity at any given concentration of sucrose. Thus flower opening and longevity in gladiolus appear to be limited more by the availability of sucrose than water.