Effect of postharvest handling procedures on cut Capsicum stems

•Stems of ‘Rio Light Orange’ ornamental pepper should be harvest when most fruits are pale orange.•‘Rio Light Orange’ ornamental peppers can be cold stored in water for up to 1 week and ‘Cappa Round Red’ for up to 2 weeks.•Use of commercial hydrator was detrimental or had no effect on any of nine cultivars tested and is not recommended.•Holding solution increased vase life of ‘Black Pearl’, ‘Rooster’ and ‘Stromboli’ and increased the number of days foliage remained acceptable for eight of nine cultivars.•Vase life and quality of ‘Rio Light Orange’ and ‘Cappa Round Red’ ornamental peppers can be extended following proper postharvest handling procedures.