Recently in Cut Flower Care Category

Real florists have taken a verbal beating from paid radio personalities telling listeners that our flowers are inferior and urging shoppers to purchase the cheap blooms from companies like ProFlowers.com. Last week we discussed how flowers from a box take the professional presentation and the romance out of receiving Valentine's Day flowers, especially at the office. 

It's not just florists that think the 'fresh from the box' experience is unromantic and disappointing and projects 'when you care enough to spend the very least'.      

At that time, none of us could have anticipated the extreme cold across much of the US so it's time to talk about the effect of sub-freezing temperatures on Valentine's Day roses and compare what local florists do vs the boxes shipped by ProFlowers, Hallmark, FTD and 1-800-Flowers.

Professional Local Florists

• Deliver flowers in water so the blooms don't dehydrate.
• Wrap and even double wrap your entire arrangement to protect it from being frozen. 
• Protect your arrangements in their stores until just the moment they are placed into heated trucks for delivery.
• Hand deliver your flowers to your office or home.
• Never leave your roses or other flowers to freeze on the doorstep if no one's there. 

Boxes shipped from ProFlowers, Hallmark, FTD and 1-800-Flowers

• May be shipped with little or no water to sustain the flowers
• Pass from warehouses/distribution centers to trucks to FedEx or UPS planes to airport hangars to more trucks to another set of distribution centers and finally into unheated delivery vans.
• Can and will be left at front doors, on doorsteps and porches if no one is home or the office is closed. It's part of box shipper agreements negotiated with overnight delivery companies to cut corners and keep prices as cheap as possible.  

Watch this video of unboxing ProFlowers.com frozen roses that had been left on a porch for a couple hours in freezing temperatures. They're not exactly fresh from the fields. And it's not just ProFlowers roses getting frozen during delivery - WTAE Channel4 of Pittsburgh had similar damaged flower results with a box from Hallmark.

So to avoid getting frozen flowers and a chilly response from your Valentine, remember to order from a real Pro Florist, your local full-service flower shop, that won't sacrifice quality, presentation power and service when delivering your love.

We at FlowerChat, want you to feel confident that your purchase of tulips from your local florists will last longer. The tulip is also known by the Latin name Tulipa.

Eric Shaw, owner of Everyday Flowers, Florist In Tustin California has given us permission to reprint his article on Florist Delivered Tulips

It’s the season again with spring flowers just around the corner. We always look forward to the many types of flowers that become available in the floral industry and tulips are defiantly one of the well know flowers that are in their peak. Here are some tips for
prolonging the life of your florist delivered tulip arrangements.

Place your tulip arrangements in a cool area in your home or office and keep them away from any types of heat sources.

The tulip stems will also continue to grow once placed in water. They will often begin to curve and grow towards any light source.

Fresh tulips should arrive in your flower arrangement
standing straight up however there are times that they will bend down. This is a normal reaction perhaps from being in the florist cooler and reacting to the sudden change in temperature. All they need is a little light, some time will stand straight up on their own.

Keeping your tulips in fresh clean water and making sure the water line is covering the end of the stems will also help prolong the life of your tulips.
Don’t forget to check your water level daily.

Even though this flower is available most of the year. The springtime is the best time to enjoy the many types that are available. Just give your local florist a call and let them introduce you to a taste of what spring has to offer.

Thank you Eric for the information about fresh cut tulips. Most local florists like fresh cut tulips for their organic nature in the vase. Remember, fresh cut tulips move, keep growing and gravitate toward sources of light.

Gerber Daisy

What is the world’s most popular flowers?

The Gerbera Daisy is one of the world's most popular flowers. Latin name Gerbera spp, originated in South Africa. The Gerbera daisy is also known as the Transvaal Daisy.

The Gerbera Daisy is popular as a bedding plant, container plant or indoor houseplant, with it’s most popular use in floral arrangements.

The gerbera daisy's bright color and 4 or 5 inch bloom attract attention and add the perfect touch to any floral occasion. Gerbera Daisies have a long lasting cut flower vase life, sometimes 2 to 3 weeks, making them wonderful for weddings flowers, attractive in table centerpiece arrangements or just Gerbera Daisies in a bud vase.