Estimation of metabolic activity of cut flowers during a study to enhance vase life of Cymbidium hybrid cut-flowers

•Use of metabolic inhibitors as vase solution for increasing vase life of orchid cut flowers.•Modified alkali trap method to estimate metabolic activity of cut flowers during vase period.•Measurement of metabolic activity of cut flowers by modified alkali trap method.•Metabolic inhibitors increased vase life of Cymbidium miniature hybrid and Cymbidium hybrid ‘H. C. Arora’ cut flowers.