26 Secrets Your Florist Won’t Tell You
Updated: Nov. 27, 2022Get the inside scoop from florists on how to buy and care for your fresh flowers.
Yes, your flowers look beautiful in the window
But the heat from direct sunlight will kill them in a day or two. If you want your flowers around longer than just a few days, here are some clever ways you can preserve a bouquet.
Out of preservative?
Try this: one fourth 7Up, three fourths water, and two or three drops of bleach.
Don’t forget to wash the vase with soap when you change the water.
Otherwise, the bacteria clinging to the sides will contaminate your new water.
How fresh is your rose?
Look closely at the bottom of the blossom and see how many outside petals have been removed. The more ripped petals you see, the older it is. These are the 17 cut flowers that last longest in a vase.
It’s not your nose
Many flowers today don’t have much scent, because growers are breeding for long stems and a lengthy vase life instead.
You can buy the cheaper Valentine’s Day roses at the gas station
But they may droop or lose petals the next day. They were probably cut weeks ago and put in cold storage.
Fruit is the enemy
It emits ethylene gas, so even in a separate bowl a few inches away, it’s a surefire flower killer. If you’re looking for a delectable arrangement, these are edible flowers you can grow in your garden.
Go local
If you want more flowers for your money, find a florist in your recipient’s town and call him directly. But it’s harder than you think: some florists in the yellow pages and at the top of your Google search are national businesses masquerading as local ones. They even buy local phone numbers. So make sure you look for a physical address in town.
Those packets really work
Our smartest customers ask for bunch of them. Most of us will gladly give you extras.
Put away those scissors, which can crush the stem.
Instead, use a sharp, non-serrated knife to cut a quarter of an inch off the bottom of the stems, at an angle. While you’re at it, cut off those leaves below the water line. They breed bacteria.
Looking for a way to jazz up your red roses?
Try pairing them with purple statice or heather. Or ask us: “What can you put in that will really make her roses stand out?” Don’t miss these tricks to make cheap flowers look expensive.
Believe it or not, weddings are not that profitable
This is primarily due to labor costs. But we’re banking on your future business. Once we do a wedding for you and do it right, you’re a customer for life.
Thanks for continuing to buy flowers, even in this economy
We really do understand why you’re choosing floating bowls instead of $50 centerpieces for your wedding. And why you’re sending your wife a mixed bouquet every week instead of the $50 roses. That’s part of the reason our business is down by 8 or 9 percent.
How about thinking outside the box?
Lots of women would love a vase filled with red tulips still in the bulb for Valentine’s Day. Just make sure you’re getting the right bouquet. Here’s what your Valentine’s Day flowers say about your relationship.
Choose your bridesmaids’ dresses before you come to us.
After spending an hour with you picking flowers, it’s a bit of a drag to do it again six months later because you ended up picking different color dresses.
If you buy your wedding flowers at Costco…
Don’t ask me to design them for you. Would you buy your steaks there, then bring them to the caterer to prepare?
Flowers don’t water themselves
Call to complain because your flowers died after just three days, and we know you probably didn’t even add water to the vase. Don’t forget to follow these pro tips to make your flowers last longer.
