Flooding is an inexpensive cultural practice used for pest management in Massachusetts cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) production. This project examined the use of short-term floods ( < 72 h) for dodder (Cuscuta gronovii Willd.) management under controlled conditions. Using incubators, seed was submerged in water for 0, 24 and 48 h at 10, 15 and 20 C (simulating spring water temperatures) and 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h at 15, 20 and 25 C (simulating summer water temperatures). Two 1-year controlled studies (field and greenhouse) evaluated three flood durations (0, 24 and 48 h) and four flood initiations (1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after early seedling emergence (AEE)). Treated seeds were planted to cranberry vines and to Petri dishes; percent germination, degree of dodder attachment and dodder biomass data were collected. Treatments had limited effect on seed germination. Flooding 4 weeks AEE resulted in the lowest mean attachment ratings and dodder stem biomass on cranberry. This preliminary work provides evidence that flooding may retard dodder stem growth rather than reducing seed germination and that floods initiated after some time has elapsed after early emergence may be more effective than those initiated closer to the time of seedling emergence. More information is needed to thoroughly understand the processes involved; however, small projects such as this can provide interim guidelines that growers can immediately consider when deciding on a dodder management program.