Fiery Red Gladiolus For Your Virgo!

Everyone knows I adore my charming, vivacious Virgo. He’s one-in-a-million for sure even if he is also a million headaches. Know what I mean? The virgo in my life deserves something incredible for his birthday. It has to be special and sweet. Since he shares a birthday with my mother, it has to be something unique so that they don’t feel like they’re getting the same thing. What a hassle!

Hassle/problem solved this year. Regular readers probably remember me touting zodiac flowers for virgos last year. I know from personal experience how incredible those gifts went over so I’m looking for a repeat performance this year! Though their birthday isn’t until September, if you have someone in your life born between August 21 and September 21, you have a virgo on your hands! When you want a cool birthday gift without a lot of trouble, contact your local florist and mention these Virgo zodiac flowers.

• Forget-me-nots
• Gladiolus
• Monkshood
• Hypericum
• Chrysanthemum
• Violet
• Ivy
• Eucalyptus (even filler flowers count!)

Sending zodiac flowers to your virgo this year? Don’t forget to stop back by and let us know how it turned out!

Claiming your Bing Local listing is another of the FREE services that you can use to make your shop’s presence known and control the information that search engines see about your flower shop. It’s as simple as that. Flower Shop Network is always looking for new and easy ways to promote your shop so we have created this visual guide and tutorial Read the rest of this entry »

Parents and children celebrate going back to school with a bang. There is lots of back to school shopping and back to school parties to enjoy. But what does the teacher get?

This year, send your child’s teacher some flowers. Better still, buy a bouquet of flowers from your local florist and have your child present them. Flowers aren’t quite as tasty as an apple but the smile lasts longer.

Another idea is to visit your local flower shop and see if they have any mugs that are appropriate for your child’s teacher. They could say “#1 Teacher,” “You’re The Best,” or anything like this. Then, ask your florist to create a small mug bouquet or candy mug for the teacher. Both are excellent gifts that are unique and creative.  Instead of adding to the pile of apples on the desk, add a smile instead with a candy mug or mug bouquet.

Of course, no teacher will refuse a balloon or two, especially tied to the rim of a candy mug or back to school flower vase. They may wish to put them in a different part of the room so as not to make the other children feel badly about getting nothing or something smaller. If this is a concern for you, make sure the flowers are presented at the end of the day or to the teacher’s home. Bringing back to school flowers and gifts at the end of the day not only spares embarassment for others, but it also gives you a chance to speak to the teacher when more one-on-one time is available and the stress of the day is gone.

For more back to school gift ideas, contact your creative local florist!

Ask the Expert: Lucky Jello?

Lucky Bamboo Roots

My Lucky Bamboo was a birthday present from my mother almost 3 years ago. I guess I never really looked at the plant, but today I noticed a gelatinous substance in the roots. Also my plant has stopped absorbing water as often. . .

Lucky Bamboo With Gelatinous Substance

Plant Expert Reply:

Your plant may have come with water crystals ( a polyacrylamide substance that helps retain water).  These crystals absorb water so that later they can release water when the plant needs it.  I don’t know why some lucky bamboo sellers do this - it is unnecessary.  After all the lucky bamboo is in water.  The crystals shouldn’t cause a problem.

However if the substance seems more organic or has a bad odor, decaying material may be the problem.  The rooting plant material may have caused a fungus which will cause problems with the lucky bamboo stalks.

Either way you can get rid of the gelatin-like substance by washing the roots.  It may also be a good time to prune the roots or move the stalks into a larger containers. Before you place the stalks back in the container, test all the stalks making sure that they are all firm.  Remove any stalk that feels soft. This way if any disease has occurred, you will be removing it.

If your plant looks healthy, I wouldn’t worry to much about the water intake.  It could be related to a humidity factor in the environment.

Ask the Expert: Which flowers are available in December?
My best friend is getting married in the end of December in Florida. I am trying to help her as much as I can. So right now I am looking for seasonal flowers that would be available during that time. For her wedding color she wants to go for a deeper orange color. Could you help me with that? Thank you. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hanna N.

Plant Expert Reply:
The flower world has changed over the years and many flower varieties are now available year round.  However, it is always nice to has a list to go by when you are in the early planning stages.  The following flowers are available for weddings in December and in a shade of orange:

Alstromeria, Ascelpias, Bird of Paradise, Calla Lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Euphorbia, Fressia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Hypericum, Lily (Asiatic), Narcissus, Protea, Ranunculus, Rose, Safflower, and Tulip.

Orange Gerbera Wedding Bouquet

Many of these flowers are excellent choices for wedding bouquets and reception flowers. My personal favorites are Gerberas, Callas and Tulips. If you need a strong presentation of orange, the Asiatic Lily blooms are large and make a great focal flower. To add a delicate element used the Fressia or Ascelpias. For a unique look used the Safflower.

Of course, there are other wedding flowers available in December and that is where your local Florida florist comes in handy.  You can take this list to them and discuss these wedding flowers. The florist can show you what these flowers look like and how they can be used in bouquets.  They will be able to suggest other flowers that are available in December and which will complement the flowers already discussed.

If you need a good source for planning a wedding, check out Wedding and Party Network and The Celebration Advisor.  In fact the photo above came from the wedding bouquet photo gallery on Wedding and Party Network.  Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms Floral Design in Tampa designed the gorgeous bouquets.

I hope you and your friend have a fun planning her wedding.  Keep me posted.   I can’t wait to see what wedding flowers you choose.

Know someone who is getting married? When you send flowers to help celebrate their nuptials, consider filling out the enclosure card with wedding card messages like these.

1. Thinking of you both and wishing you all happiness as you celebrate the joys your marriage has brought. May your special day bring you many loving moments to share; moments you’ll remember long after the day has passed.
2. In your smiles, all the warmth and fun, all the gentleness and joy of a cherished friendship. In your hearts, all the closeness and care, all the tenderness and devotion of a lifetime romance. In your marriage, all the harmony and hope, all the power and promise of a love that grows ever stronger and more beautiful with the passing years. Congratulations.
3. May this be the happy beginning of a wonderful life together.
4. May you always drink together from the source of love, which is a mighty spring forever pouring itself out for you.
5. Wish you might, wish you may, have a sweet romantic day made of moments meant for two, filled with love that feels brand-new.
6. For a Special Couple. May your wedding be a time to celebrate all the richness love has brought into your lives and all the joy that still lies ahead. Wishing you happiness always.
7. (Funny) If there’s one important key to a successful marriage, it’s sharing–the sharing of responsibility, of emotions, of souls…but most important…of the TV remote control.
8. With love to a special couple whose happiness together warms the hearts of everyone around them. Congratulations.
9. (Bride To Groom) A happy wedding day to the man I want beside me every night for the rest of forever. I love you.
10. (Groom To Bride) The world has changed a lot (and so have we!) since we first met. We’ve shared some sad and funny times and years we won’t forget. When all is said and done, there’s one unchanging thing that’s true-with every breath, I find myself more thankful I have you.

View all wedding enclosure card messages.

If you have any suggestions for similar card messages, please email them to bjackson@flowershopnetwork.com

Ask the Expert: I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina
How can I winter-over/indoors my duranta erecta–little tree in a big pot/about 3-4 feet tall.

It’s beautiful & I’d like to be able to bring it in (should it be in the house/sunny room?) or just in the garage over the winter? Gloria

Plant Expert Reply:

Hopefully the pot isn’t so big that you can’t move the plant and all into the house. I would not recommend trying to put the plant in a smaller pot just to get it in the house.

The optimum place for your duranta would be a sunroom that stays above freezing.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be heated but it can’t drop below 30 degrees.  A garage will work but only if it stays above freezing and has many windows that will contribute good light.  Any room in your house will work as long as it has a good light source.

When you bring the duranta indoors for the winter reduce your watering.  The plant will not need as much water as it did outside.  You can also cut back on the fertilizer.  Watch for spidemites, mealybugs and whiteflies when you take it indoors. If these pests due occur, you can spray it with a houseplant spray that controls those insects.

Good Luck and Keep Me Posted.

Ask the Expert: what can i do when poinsettias got heat stress
it was after  doing root tredem the temp got up to 101c now they are all drooping will they come out of it any help thank you Theresa

Plant Expert Reply:

When poinsettia cuttings have heat stress issues,  the first course of action is to place them under cooler conditions.  Poinsettia cutting should be grown at an 80-85degree day time temperature and a 70-75degree night time temperature.  Keep the cuttings under a shade cloth until they form roots.  Keep the humidity high and give the plants adequate moisture with out over saturating the soil with water.  Soil that is too soggy will not allow the roots to form and will promote the growth of fungus gnats.  Although the plants look wilted many will recover given the right conditions from here on out.

Good Luck and Keep Me Posted.

Yellow Wildflower

Wildflower Leaf

Ask the Expert: What Flower is this?
4 to 6 foot tall
Multiple blooms up to 3 inches in diameter Paul

Plant Expert Reply:

This one was a little tricky the bloom looks like one kind of plant and the leaf another.  However, I believe the wildflower you have is a Rudbeckia laciniata.  It is a perennial hardy in zones 3-9.  It will bloom from mid-summer ot mid-autumn.

Ask The Expert: lucky bamboo i just bought isin a “pot” (more like a glass) about 5-6″ high.  It has rocks init. You can\’t see through the container, so how do I know how much water to keep in the plant. do i just keep it so i can feel it at the top of the rocks ?

Plant Expert Reply:

You will want to keep the water level at least an inch or so above the rocks.  It is acceptable to fill your container half full of water.  You will want to keep this level all of the time. Depending on the hum idity of your room, you may have to add water every couple of days.

Keep in mind, lucky bamboo likes water but doesn’t like the chemicals - chlorine and fluoride.  So you will need to use distilled water or you will need to leave your water in an open container, for a minimu of overnight and up to 24hrs, before you place it in your lucky bamboo container.

To help with humidity, you can mist the air around your lucky bamboo every so often.

Good Luck and Keep me posted.