For the Love of Cats

Shop Cat Poly on the Green Roof at Stein Your Florist Co.

We love our furry feline friends! They are wonderful companions without the over neediness of their canine counterparts. Our shop cats, Cat and Poly, make our work days a joy and remind us to play, stretch, relax, gaze out the window and enjoy the occasional catnap or two.

Gerbera daisies are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Cats are the furry part of our families that make our houses homes. They tend to be curious, eager to take a nibble or two (or many many more) on that beautiful bouquet of flowers your beau just brought you, so it is important that when you’re enjoying your flowers and plants they can be enjoyed by your kitties too!

Carnations are toxic to dogs and cats,
but they make a lovely collar.

Roses are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

So how will you know if a particular plant or flower is potentially toxic? Thanks to the internet we can check these things out in a flash! We recommend starting with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website where you can find a searchable list of both toxic and non-toxic plants for both cats and dogs. It’s best to know the scientific name as well as the common name of the plants or flowers when doing your pet homework, since sometimes multiple plants with different characteristics may share the same common name.

Coxcomb are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Many plants that your cats may munch of will cause nothing worse than a little digestive upset, but some may cause more serious health issues. Some common flowers and plants that are toxic to both cats and dogs are:  aloe, amaryllis, azaleas, baby’s breath, begonias, bird of paradise, and tulips. Members of the Lilium genus, including asiatic, casablanca, Easter, and stargazer lilies, can cause serious kidney problems (and possibly even death) if ingested by cats.

Phillip is ready for date night with
his top hat and non-toxic rose.

So what is a pet friendly bouquet? A bouquet consisting of plants and flowers that are not considered to be toxic to pets (primarily cats and dogs) of course. Flowers such as roses, African daisies, orchids and most ferns and plants such as bromeliads, African violets and Christmas cactus are non-toxic (although any ingested plant material might occasionally cause mild upset) and would be suitable as to have in households with pets.

Here is a brief list of "pet friendly" flowers and plants courtesy of Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, Vice President and Medical Director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

·        Common Name | Scientific name

·         African daisy | Arctotis stoechadifolia

·         African violet | Saintpaulia spp.

·         Alyssum | Allysum spp.

·         Bachelors buttons | Centaureaa cyanus

·         Begonia | Begonia spp.

·         Celosia | Celosia spp.

·         Common Snapdragon | Antirrhinum majus

·         Easter Daisy | Townsendia sevicea

·         Orchids | Barbrodia, Sophronitis, etc.

·         Peruvian lily, Brazilian lily | Alstroemeria spp. (Not a true lily, so it’s a great alternative!)

·         Rose | Rosa spp.

Chrysanthemums are toxic to dogs and cats,
but ok for stuffed dinosaurs.

So love your cats and your flowers too! Be sure to seek out or create “pet friendly” bouquets and plants when looking for something special for yourself or when sending a gift to a pet owner. Call us at 800-887-4013 and we can help you in your cat friendly quest. Meow!

Cecilia is catching up on some of her cat reading.

Dean Cat is ordering flowers online from his favorite florist,
Stein Your Florist Co.!

  

Roes and orchids are feline friendly, but avoid chrysanthemums.

These kitties love flowers. Roses and liatris are thier friends, but avoid tasting
the chrysanthemums, solidego, and delphinium.

Paintings of flowers are always feline friendly!

Flower photos are always safe too!

Psychic cat Cecilia sees bad things in your pet's future if they much on
these blooms! Avoid hydrangea and carnations around your cats and dogs.

Penelope is pleased that she's safe to sample these rose petals.

Avoid stock, aka gillyflower, around your cats and dogs.
Find more cats on our Facebook page!

Look, but don't much on chrysanthemums, calla lilies, and carnations you curious cats!
The orchids are pet friendly.

Mom, may I taste the roses?
Yes you may, roses are feline friendly.

Orchids look like a tasty snack... they are pet friendly after all.

Zinnias are pet friendly!

Look, but don't taste the Lucky Bamboo samurai cat,
they are toxic.

Rose Petals are pet friendly!

Feiline Fred isn't too sure about this bouquet...
Some of the flowers are pet friendly, some are not.
Call us at 800-887-4013 and we can help you create an
arrangement that is perfect for pets!

A collar of daisies is all the rage in feline fashion, but they are for
looking, not eating, as they are toxic to dogs and cats.

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.