365 Days of Floral Education - Days 16-20

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Reviving Roses

Day 16 – If your roses begin to wilt, you may be able to revive them. Trim off about an inch from the bottom of its stem and then submerge the entire rose under water in a sink or bathtub. Allow the stem to absorb water for about 20-60 minutes before returning them to their vase.

Opening Roses

Day 17 - Roses last longer in a cool area, but if you want their blooms to open quickly, temporarily place them in a warmer spot (Note: not hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit). This is great for when you want them looking their most beautiful, perhaps for an evening dinner party ;)







Beware Toxic Flowers and Plants

Day 18 – Households with pets can pose a bit of a challenge when selecting which flowers and plants to keep around. Some pets may be tempted to munch on a few leaves, and while many plants will cause nothing more severe than mild digestive upset should they be ingested by pets, some can cause more serious health issues. Toxic to both cats and dogs are Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis. Members of the Lilium genus, including Easter and stargazer lilies, can cause serious kidney problems if ingested by cats. Keep these things in mind when selecting your flora to keep your fauna happy :)








Poinsettia Care

Day 19 - Even though we associate poinsettias with the mid-winter holidays, they're actually a tropical plant and need to be kept away from drafts and cold. Too chilly temperatures can cause their colorful leaves (called bracts) to drop. Keep their soil moist and allow it to dry out only slightly in between waterings. Encourage new blooms by pinching off spent blossoms and adding plant fertilizer when it's actively growing new buds or leaves. Poinsettias can also be cut from the plant and used as cut flowers. When you cut a stem, a milky-white sap flows from the cut end. Place the stem in water immediately to allow it to hydrate before mixing it with other flowers.

Pet Friendly Flowers and Plants

Day 20 - What is a pet friendly bouquet? It is a bouquet consisting of plants and flowers that are not considered to be toxic to pets (primarily cats and dogs). Flowers such as roses, African daisies, and orchids and plants such as bromeliads, African violets and Christmas cactus are non-toxic (although any ingested plant material might occasionally cause mild, self-limited vomiting) and would be suitable as to have in households with pets.

365 Days of Floral Education - Days 11-15

As part of our 125^th Anniversary celebration at Stein Your Florist Co. we are sharing a year of floral education, November 1, 2012 thru October 31, 2013. Each day we will post something new on our Facebook page to share our knowledge of our favorite things, flowers and plants and we'll be updating our blog every 5 days or so. No need for pencils and notebooks, just sharing some simple lessons in floristry.

Properly Display Cut Flowers

Day 11 - To enjoy your cut flowers for the longest possible time be sure to display them in a cool spot. Most flowers prefer temperatures between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius) and are best displayed away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators, which give off heat and can cause flowers to dehydrate.

Bird of Paradise

Day 12 - Each stem of a bird of paradise usually contains about 4 to 5 flowers (called inflorescence). Sometimes only one flower is visible, where others are hidden in the “beak” of the flower. When one exposed flower withers it should be removed and another one can be pulled out of the flower’s boat shaped bract. If a flower doesn't emerge, gently ease it out by hand, but many times this is already done by our floral designers for the most beautiful look. These exotic blooms are sensitive to temperatures below 50 degrees F, so display them in a spot that doesn’t get too cool.

Gerbera Daisy

Day 13- Gerbera daisies are fun, bright, and beautiful, but their stems are highly susceptible to bacteria blockage. This may cause their heads to droop over, so change their water often and replenish their supply of floral food every 1-2 days, this will keep them looking lovely longer. Also, since they are particularly sensitive to ethylene gas and bacteria – keep the vase and surrounding areas clean and debris free and keep them away from ripening fruit.






Aloe Vera Plant

Day 14 - Aloe plants are wonderful as they are both beautiful and have a purpose. Mother Nature Network reports aloe plants, or aloe vera, are succulents that help clear the air of formaldehyde and benzene, byproducts of certain cleaners, paints and other household items. They're perfect if you are painting or are doing some major cleaning. Aside from helping to rid the air of chemicals, aloe also has a healing effect inside its branches. The gel inside works to heal cuts and soothe burns.

Hydrangea

Day 15 - Hydrangeas have woody stems that need to draw water for maximum vase life. If a blossom wilts prematurely, remove it from the design, recut the stem at a sharp angle and place in warm water for at least one hour. The flower should be revived and ready to take its place in the design. If this doesn’t revive your thirsty flower try submerging the bloom in a bucket of room temperature water for a few hours, hydrangea are great at drinking water through their petals and will often perk back up after their drowning. For best results keep the water level in their vase full. Hydrangeas can also be dried, by hanging them upside down in a warm spot. Although the color will fade slightly – the dried flowers can last between 9 months to a year.