How to Care for Fresh Flowers

Flowers are beautiful and professionally designed bouquets are especially attractive. Flowers can also carry huge sentimental meaning because they are often given as gifts from people close to us. So it's little wonder that we would want to extend the life of our flowers and enjoy their aesthetic and sentimental beauty for as long as possible.

With proper care and attention most flowers will last around 7 days with some varieties lasting for as long as 14 days. Here are some practical steps to help extend the life of your cut flowers.

Get flowers into water

After only a short time out of water flowers will begin to dehydrate. Therefore it is essential to get flowers into a vase or container of water as quickly as possible. When you first get the flowers home use warm water, not cold or hot, as this is the quickest way to rehydrate the flowers. Warm water will also promote opening of the blooms as most flowers are shipped with the blooms in a closed or tight stage.

Technically speaking the optimum temperature is 37.5C (99.5F), which is roughly body temperature. At this temperature air bubbles, which may have formed in the stem, tend to breakup. Also water that is warmer than the surrounding air is more readily taken up by the flowers.

Change the water regularly

Try to change the water every two days. The flowers should be well hydrated by now so you can use cold water instead of warm. This helps keep the flowers cool which is a key part of keeping flowers in good condition.

Use flower preservatives

Each consignment of Affinity Flowers comes with a sachet of flower preservative. Flower preservative contains two main components, carbohydrates and anti-bacterial additives.

The carbohydrates act as food which helps to sustain the flowers. The carbohydrates will also stimulate flower heads to open quicker. This is handy when you're trying to open flowers that usually ship with tight blooms like lilies.

The bactericide component inhibits bacteria developing in the water. Bacteria laden water will cause flowers to deteriorate quicker. Bacteria is also a problem because it can block flower stems and hinder the uptake of water. If left long enough the bacteria will also discolour the vase water and produce an unpleasant odour.

Simply empty the contents of the flower preservative sachet into the vase water.

If you don't have flower preservative you could add 1-2 drops of bleach to the water instead. The bleach will act as an anti-bacterial just like the additives in commercial flower preservatives.

Remove leaves that will be under water

This is important as leaves that are below the waterline will deteriorate quickly and become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you have a professionally arranged bouquet you'll find that the leaves have already been removed by the florist. But flowers bought loose or unarranged might still have leaves low on the stem.

Trim the stems

Take a pair of scissors or a sharp knife and trim 2-3cm (1 inch) from the bottom of the stem. Try not to crush the stem while you're doing this. Cut the stem on an angle to increase the surface area exposed to the water. Cutting on an angle also stops the stem sitting flat on the bottom of the vase and blocking water uptake. Once cut immediately place the flowers into water.

Water is sucked up the stem like a straw. If there is anything blocking the straw then it will impede water flow to the head. Over time the end of a stem can become blocked with impurities from the water and bacteria. Also, if a flower has been out of water for any period of time, air will be drawn into the stem which will block its ability to draw water.

Some florists recommend cutting the stems underwater which prevents air being drawn up the stem.

Re-cut stems every two days or when you change the water.

Keep flowers cool

Flowers should be kept in cool conditions. Keep them away from direct sunlight, heaters, lamps and other heat sources. Also try not to leave flowers in a hot vehicle when transporting them. This is why specialist flower delivery couriers have chilled storage on-board their vehicles.

Each variety has its own optimal holding temperature but the ideal temperature for most flowers is a chilly 4-5C (39-41F), about the temperature inside your refrigerator. Obviously these aren't ideal temperatures for people but if you really wanted to extend the life of your flowers you could place them in the refrigerator overnight or if you were going to be away for an extended period.

Keep flowers away from fruit

Fruit and vegetables produce ethylene gas which is detrimental to flowers. Carnations and Delphiniums are particularly susceptible. Try to keep flowers away from fruit and vegetables to keep them in good shape.

Similarly domestic gas is also damaging to flowers. There is a story of a flower grower who found it difficult to keep cut flowers on his farm. He suspected his gas supply may have been the cause and a check by a specialist confirmed he had a gas leak on his property.

FLOWERS CAN BRIDGE THE SOCIAL DISTANCE THIS MOTHER'S DAY

Flowers Can Bridge the Social Distance Gap This Mother’s Day

This year, Mother’s Day looks different for many of us. It may not be possible in light of COVID-19 to visit with mom or other women who have influenced your life. Such separation induces stress and loneliness but, according to several research studies, flowers may be just the antidote moms and women in general need this season.

According to a survey by Wakefield Research, 68 percent of people feel stress on a weekly basis, and 32 percent are stressed every day—numbers that are now almost certainly higher in today’s COVID-19 environment. Women, in particular, are affected, as one in four report experiencing stress multiple times a day.

Research from the University of North Florida shows that something as simple as flowers can help. The findings show that people who lived with flowers in their homes for just a few days reported a significant decrease in their levels of stress and improvements in their moods. Additional research from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, shows that the presence of flowers around senior citizens decreased depression among 81%, refreshed recent memory among 72% and encouraged outreach to loved ones among 40 percent. And research from Harvard University found that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings.

“Flowers have evolved to activate positive emotional responses from people,” says Rutgers University researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., director of the university’s Human Emotions Lab. “Each bloom has the potential to put a smile on our face and sway our opinion of a friend, colleague or loved one. That’s powerful.”

When you receive flowers as a gift, you know that someone is thinking of you right now, this very minute, said. Flowers spark joy, something that everyone needs right now—especially mothers.

Sending Flowers for Valentine's Day

There is no better way of showing someone you care than giving Valentine flowers. Even if you are giving other Valentine gifts, Valentine flowers add that little something extra to any Valentine's Day gift.

What Flowers to Give For some people, roses are the only flower that will do as Valentine's flowers. Nothing says "I love you" better than roses. Roses are the ultimate romantic flower, and the most popular present for Valentine 's Day. White roses are for love, red roses are for passion, and yellow roses are for friendship. Lilac roses are the choice to symbolize love at first sight. Red roses are the most traditional Valentine's flower, but white, yellow, or pink, are also used. Red Roses signify passion or strength of feeling, yellow roses stand for love, and white roses traditionally reflect innocence. A dozen red roses are considered to be a gift of love, while a single long stemmed red rose is usually seen as a passionate gift.

Other Choices for Valentine's Flowers

If you want to choose something different for a Valentine's flower, consider the recipient. What is her favorite flower? Knowing what certain floral colors symbolize can help you make the perfect choice.

What Colors Mean in Flowers

Blue Valentine's flowers represent tranquility and harmony, and give a sense of stability, confidence, honesty and security. True blue flowers are difficult and often expensive to come by.

Green Valentine's flowers bring good luck, with emerald leaves, apple-tinted blossoms, and chartreuse stems are associated with harmony and stability.

Orange Valentine's flowers suggest flamboyance, and really 'fiery' blossoms convey confidence and kinship.

Pink colored Valentine's flowers in pale pinks suggest emotional healing and inner calm, and bright shades of pink suggest friendship, and a fun romance.

Red Valentine's flowers are intense, passionate, and dynamic. Red colored flowers are seductive.

White Valentine's flowers represent peace and purity, and if they are given as a gift they are a gesture of respect.

Yellow Valentine's flowers represent hope and happiness, or are given as a token of courage and cheerfulness

This is a busy time of the year for florists so order early. Make sure you add a thoughtful message to your Valentine's Day flowers, even if you are giving them in person. It can be romantic, humorous or a quote from a poem.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/390506

Fall Flower Arrangements

Every season represents different colors that people are used to seeing. It wouldn't make any sense to give out a flower arrangement consisting of summer colors during the fall. Whether you are buying someone a gift, or you like to have flowers that represent fall colors around your house, that you see a professional florist that knows what arrangements look the best.

Fall represents a drastic change in color when it comes to outside scenery. It is also a representation of Thanksgiving colors which consist of dark, vibrant arrangements. Thanksgiving flowers and colors will be the most popular arrangement to choose from during the fall season. Even what holds the flower arrangements will change during thanksgiving time. Woven baskets or properly themed vases are just a couple of examples that will make your arrangement perfect.

Something that will make your thanksgiving dinner look even better is a nice centerpiece that represents all of the colors of autumn. Maybe you would like to place full harvest arrangements on your front porch to help represent the season. A very popular choice to choose from during the thanksgiving season is cornucopia arrangements. A cornucopia is a horn shaped container that holds your flower arrangement together. It is very traditional during the holiday season and symbolizes abundance. Abundance has been associated with Thanksgiving because of the usual feast that most families have.

Normally the Cornucopia is what you would see as a centerpiece on the table you plan to eat your thanksgiving dinner at. There are other arrangements associated with such a feast to choose from as well. Centerpieces that incorporate candles in the arrangement are another popular choice for Thanksgiving. It is also common to see a centerpiece with an oval or elongated basket.

Not only homeowners can take advantage of customized autumn arrangements, but restaurants too. If you are a restaurant owner and want to be surrounded with the fall spirit, having custom arrangements near a buffet or small arrangements on dining table will make your customers feel right at home. Custom arrangements during your entrance that are designed to be outdoors will also be a great choice.

There are many different ways in customizing a flower arrangement for the fall season. Bouquets can have small pumpkins, or other squashes that are often associated with the fall season. You can expect that your local florist has any type of decoration and flower to fit your request, and all you have to do is call or go online to create the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Fall Wedding Flowers, Arrangements and Bouquets

Fall, the season of harvesting, has become a popular season for weddings, especially in very hot regions where summer weddings are not appropriate. A very important part of your wedding planning consists of choosing the appropriate flowers for your fall wedding.

First of all, when choosing fall wedding flowers you should decide for a color palette. Fall is a season which promotes warm, dim colors like the yellow or rusty leaves, earthy colors, gold, amber or copper. But if you want something more daring, you can squeeze in a bright terracotta or bright yellow, or even a plum purple or pumpkin orange. When you have your mind set on a palette of colors for your fall wedding flowers, be sure you also can find matching bows, ornaments, table and seat covers.

After you've got all these figured out, the next step is to choose the fall flowers for your big day. There are specific flowers that bloom in the fall, but there's always the option to choose flowers available throughout the year which come in warm colors such as: roses, lilies, calla lilies or orchids. Their advantage is that they are also long lasting, they can easily can be arranged into bouquets of all shapes and centerpieces. Be sure though that they are available at your local florist and you may also want to check out the price, since for flowers which are out of season, the prices may hit the roof certain times of the year.

If you want specific fall flowers you can choose from: chrysanthemum, marigolds, hydrangea, dahlias, sunflowers if you're lucky enough to have your wedding in September, or Aster for an October wedding.

Fall is a good season for innovation. Alongside fall wedding flowers, one can profit from the naturally colored foliage that can bring a plus to your centerpieces and bouquets. Yellow, rusty or red leaves can look awesome, especially if you can get lovely shaped dried leaves such as oak tree leaves or maple tree leaves. You can also use dried berries or fruit that can bring some liveliness and sweetness.

As an alternative to classical and fall wedding flowers, you can decide for an exotic fall wedding and choose from the great variety of tropical flowers such as Anthuriums or Bird of Paradise which are available throughout the year, are long lasting and, more important, come in shades of the fall.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4986134

Tips to Follow When Sending Sympathy Flowers

Losing a loved is really hard and nothing can make up for it. However, support and sympathy from various people makes the family members of the deceased feel a little better. Sending flowers is a suitable option for showing one's sympathy for the close family members of the deceased. That is why people all over the world send sympathy flowers to bereaved family members whenever they hear about the death of someone they knew. However, people also often get confused when sending sympathy flowers as they do not know the etiquette regarding sympathy flowers. As a result, they sometimes make mistakes when sending flowers on this occasion. Following are some tips that should be followed when sending sympathy flowers.

Firstly, the appropriate flowers and colors should be selected. In most of the world, there is no hard and fast rule regarding suitability of different flowers and colors for expressing sympathy. Most of the flowers can be used for the purpose. One can select the deceased's favorite flowers for expressing sympathy or go by the meaning of different flowers. However, different cultures deem different flowers and colors appropriate for expressing sympathy. For example, only white flowers are appropriate for this occasion in Japan. Religion also plays a major role regarding the selection of sympathy and funeral flowers. Thus, it's best to ask the florist if one is confused.

Secondly, the appropriate size and type of the flower arrangement should be chosen. Florists have wreaths, bouquets, casket sprays and inside pieces for funerals. The choice of the size and type of the flower arrangements depends on the sender's closeness with the recipient. If the deceased was close to the sender then big and rich looking arrangements like casket sprays should be given. Otherwise, a small bouquet or flower basket will be sufficient.

Thirdly, a card with a sympathy message should be sent along with the flowers. The message should be written appropriately. Many people find it difficult to put their feelings in writing at times like these. However, all that is needed is a short message expressing sympathy and offering comfort. Such messages are greatly appreciated by the family of deceased in these hard times. If there is still a problem in writing such a message, then a card with a message already printed should be chosen.

Fourthly, the place to send the flowers should be decided. The flowers can be either sent to the funeral homes or to the residence of the person, who has died. Some cultures prohibit sending sympathy flowers to homes of the deceased people since it is seen as a bad omen. Thus, one should take the culture of the deceased into account when deciding where the flowers are to be sent. Closeness to the deceased also matters when determining where to send the flowers. Close people often send flowers to the residence of the deceased.

Finally, sending the flowers at an appropriate time is important. Sympathy flowers should be ideally sent at funeral homes before the first visitation hours. If they cannot be sent at that time then they should be sent before any additional visitation hours. Rushing the flowers to the graveyard or funeral home when the funeral services are taking place is considered inappropriate as it can disturb the ceremony. If the flowers cannot be sent on the day of the funeral then should be sent within one week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7037784

Choosing the Right Birthday Flowers For the Special Man in Your Life

When you are looking for a birthday gift for your father, husband, brother, son or boyfriend, flowers are usually not the first things that will come to your mind for some reason. However, contrary to the common belief, men too love and adore flowers. It is just the idea that flowers are only meant for the 'delicate' women that is misleading. It is a complete misconception!

Whether you believe it or not but, almost all men love to receive unique flowers on special occasions like their birthday, anniversary, etc. However, the kinds of flowers that should be gifted to men are different from those gifted to women. The perfect birthday flowers for the special man in your life should be bright and vibrant in reds, oranges and yellows. For instance, Gerber daisies, roses, carnations, etc. are good options available.

o When it comes to birthday flowers, a particular birth month flower would be the most appropriate birthday gift.

o If you are looking for flower for your husband or your boyfriend, nothing can be a better option than the red roses that symbolize love and passion!

o As far as flowers for your dad or son are concerned, they should not be passionate but should symbolize love, appreciation and thoughtfulness on the special day. For instance, bright colored flowers, orchids, ornamental plants and bonsai trees are great options.

Just like birthstones, every month of the year is represented by a particular flower. For example, carnation and snowdrop represent the month of January; primrose is meant for February, Jonquils are for March, daisies and sweet peas for April, hawthorns for May, rose and honeysuckle for June, water lilies for July, poppy and gladiolus for August, morning glory for September, marigolds for October, chrysanthemum for November and the poinsettia for December!

Thus, gifting flowers to that special man in your life can be a great way to make him feel special, if and only if you choose the right flower. Once you have chosen the right flower for him, go to the best flower shop in your city and

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2295744