Three great tips for buying flowers

So it’s your loved one’s birthday and you want to give her something that will show how much you appreciate and love her. Although chocolates are an option, they alone are not as good gifts since they only last for as long as they don’t melt or are not eaten. Jewellery may be too expensive, and clothes, well, they don’t really seem to say anything sweet at all. So why not try flowers?

Flowers last for as long as they are taken care of. If they are put in a vase with water and are exposed to sunlight, they will stay alive and keep your special someone company. Flowers are also affordable, and will definitely not take up a chunk of your allowance or your salary. A lot of great sites offer discounts for stores like Prestige Flowers. On their own, flowers also give a sweet message to the recipient: I love you and I care for you.

To help you, here are some great tips for buying that colourful gift of nature for that person you love:

Choose flowers that have a long shelf life

The longest shelf life of cut flowers is typically one week, after which they lose their freshness. When choosing which flowers to buy then, consider buying those that will typically last for that long. Here is a list of some blooms that make the cut:

• Stock: This can come in white, pink, red or lilac. They are available all-year-round.
• Tropical blossoms: These include birds of paradise, ginger, anthurium and cymbidium orchids. They do well even in hot conditions, unlike your ordinary blooms.
• Thistle: This round, purple flower is part of the daisy family and typically comes with a prickly stem and leaves. Just a bit of trivia, this flower is the national emblem of Scotland.
• Chrysanthemum: This member of the daisy family can come in a variety of colours such as yellow, white and lilac.
• Protea: This is sometimes called a sugarbush or fynbos. The protea is round and its petals protrude inwards.
• Miniature calla lilies: These cone-shaped flowers come in practically all colours except for blue.
• Garden roses: These are hybrid roses and differ from standard roses in that they have more petals.
• Heliconia: This flower is native to South America but it can also be found in some islands in the Pacific. Its leaves are paddle-shaped.
• Lisianthus: These bell-shaped flowers are native to regions in the south of the United States.
• Celosia: These are striking flowers that can come in red, purple, pink, among other colours.
• Gladiolus: This is a member of the iris family and can grow between two to five feet in height.
• Statice: It is a member of the leadwort family. It is colourful and has sturdy stems.
• Sunflower: This flower is cheery and bright, and typically comes in yellow.

Once you take your pick of flowers, make sure to tell your loved one to take care of those blooms. Although these blossoms that made the cut typically last for a week, the assumption is that they are watered and given enough exposure to sunlight. There are even ways to further prolong the shelf life of these flowers which your loved one can follow.

Know what you want to say and choose the right flower colour for it

Before you take your pick of that flower you’re giving your loved one, make sure you know what message you actually want to convey, apart from the “I love you” and “I care for you” one. Do you want to express passionate love? Or maybe you want to wish him or her luck? Perhaps you wanna wish that person all the happiness in the world? Or maybe you want to go for wishing peace and prosperity?

It’s important to know the exact message you want to give because the colour of the flowers you purchase should say exactly that. Below is a list of some colours and what they mean when they figure in blooms:

• Red: Passionate love, desire. If you give red flowers to your loved one, it’s like you’re saying you love (and want) him or her.
• Yellow: Happiness, joy. If you give yellow flowers to your loved one, it’s like you’re saying you wish him or her happiness. Yellow flowers are also used to brighten up the day of the recipient.
• Orange: Excitement, enthusiasm. If you give orange flowers to your loved one, you typically want to make him or her smile on a bad day.
• Pink: Tender love, gentleness. If you give pink flowers to your loved one, it’s like you’re saying I love you with that gentle kind of love.
• White: Sympathy, purity. If you give white flowers, you typically want to say you condole with that person. White flowers are usually used in memorial services.
• Blue: Peace, tranquillity. If you give blue flowers, you typically want to relieve the recipient of stress.
• Lavender: Elegance. If you give purple flowers, you want to emphasize refinement and grace.
• Purple: Success. If you give purple flowers, it’s like you’re congratulating the recipient for a job well done.
• Green: Renewal. If you give green flowers, it’s like you’re telling the recipient that there’s hope.

This is not to say, however, that you should stick to only one colour. You can combine two or more colours to convey multiple messages to that someone lucky enough to deserve those flowers from you. 

Choose the proper floral arrangement

Before you purchase those blooms, you have to pick a floral arrangement first. The floral arrangement is, of course, a personal decision, but can also depend on the event that is being celebrated, if any. Below is a list of the floral arrangements you can choose from:

• Bouquets: These are the most common floral arrangements if you want to give flowers to your special someone. Bouquets are usually given during Valentine’s Day. Don’t just give those flowers, though. Look out for and follow the best tips to celebrate this occasion and you’re sure to make your special someone happy.
• Wreaths: These are typically given in memorial services. White flowers that represent sympathy and purity are typically arranged into wreaths for these occasions. You can include your name in the wreath and write your condolences in these.
• Flower baskets: You may opt for this floral arrangement if you want to give flowers to your special someone. Flower baskets are a good alternative to bouquets. You can have these delivered when you want to celebrate a feat with your special someone, say, his or her performance in front of a wide audience, even when you’re not there.

Choose a floral arrangement that is fit for the occasion. Be nitty-gritty about the additional details as well. For instance, make sure you don’t overlook the colour of the flower basket if you opt to give this to your special someone.

Conclusion

Flowers are one of the best gifts you can purchase and give your loved one. But it’s not just because they are affordable. It’s also because they have that uncanny ability to convey strong messages to the recipient without even saying anything. You want to say “I love you” and “I care for you” to someone? Go ahead and make that purchase. Be assured that those blooms will do their job and put a smile on your special someone’s face.

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