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Handy Tips For Fresh Cut Spring Flowers

Yesterday when I went home for lunch to check on my 10month old puppy, I notice several things popping up in my garden. The daffodils were in full bloom and the tulips were making their way out of the soil. So many times on the Bloomin’ Blog, we talk about what to do with flowers we receive from a florist. These flowers come prepared and the only thing that needs to be done is to figure out where to place them. Of course, you have to refresh the water and occasionally re-cut them. Mostly, you just sit back and enjoy them.

But, what if you want to cut flowers from your garden and bring them inside. Just like a florist, you will need to prepare your flowers to ensure that they last. A few weeks back, I read a blog post over on Florists Blog by Frank Sarno of Cricket’s Flowers in Lexington MA that detailed the very steps needed to ensure that the spring flowers brought in from the garden would last.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, I asked Frank (who is one of our Lexington Ma Florist members) if I could republish his handy tips.

So, take a look at the information Frank provided. I think it will be very helpful.

How do you care for fresh cut spring flowers?

Let Cricket’s Flowers show you to create wonderful flowers, that last.

Like most flowers, stems of spring bulb flowers should be cut on an angle to increase surface area. It is best to try and cutting stems under water to prevent air bubbles from forming in the stems. Trim about 1 inch of each stem every few days,this will help to make sure the flowers receive enough water.

Use floral preservative each time you change your water. Clean, fresh water is the most important thing you can do to keep cut flowers looking fresh. If you are out of floral preservative try using one part sprite ( or similar, clear colored soda) to 3 parts of water 2 tablespoons lemon or orange juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart of water . This will give you the sugar, citric acid and bleach that will help keep the flowers fresh and free of bacteria.

Spring flowers are sensitive to ethylene, so keep fruits and vegetables away from any flowers you may have displayed on your kitchen counter or table.

Daffodils: When cut the stems secrete sap. They are best used in a vase with all daffodils so that the sap will not clog the stems of the other types of flowers arranged with it. Or if you want to mike then with other spring flowers it is best to keep them separate for several hours, then rinse their stems and change the water in the vase.

Freesia: Removing older flowers on freesia stems this will help to open the closed buds. Hyacinth: The stems should show white on the ends, which you can trim off. Hyacinth stems will grow, and continue to open after they are cut.

Lily: Always remove the pollen from lily blooms. To avoid staining the petals with pollen, remove anthers when the bloom is just starting to open before the pollen is fully developed and dry.

Tulips: stems continue to grow for about a day, and can grow up to another inch and their blooms will open in daylight and close up when placed in the dark. Place tulips in even light or rotate them every other day for even growing.

Cricket’s Flowers

Thanks, Frank. I didn’t think about rotating my tulips. I’m going to try that when mine are ready to cut.

Need A Cool Birthday Gift This March?

Potted Daffodils Are Great Birthday Gifts

Potted Daffodils Are Great Birthday Gifts

It says a lot about you when the flower that you’re holding seems to reach out to hug you. Perhaps I just love flowers and want the favor returned, but this is exactly the image that I’m presented with when gazing upon daffodils.

“Daffodils” is the term associated with flowers of the Narcissus genus, while jonquils are the commonplace term for the specific species, Narcissus jonquilla. Jonquils (Narcissus jonquilla) actually refers to the seventh division of daffodils. Divisions for this flower are based mostly on their different flower forms. Whatever the reason for this extra specificity, jonquils share the title for the birth month flower of March.

With both daffodils and jonquils taking center stage this month, I figured that this would be a great chance to talk up the pretty blooms.

Send Daffodil Flower Arrangements

Send Daffodil Flower Arrangements

Whatever term is used, daffodils are (mostly) bright yellow flowers that seem to exude sunshine. Thick and sturdy stems support the colorful portion of the daffodil as there is just too much greatness for a wimpy stem to hold. An uprising “cup” in the center leaves one wondering why ranunculus bears the name “buttercup” instead. It is a truly beautiful flower that is gaining widespread popularity, especially during the spring and summer months.

It’s hard not to take inspiration from this amazing flower. Why would you want a pocket full of posies when you could have a pocket full of sunshine? Potted daffodils make a great addition to any home or office. With March birthdays aplenty, consider potted daffodils as your next big gift idea. It’s also a fun idea to talk with your local florist about using daffodils or flowers that have a similar characteristic that you like. Your florist can create an amazing bouquet based off of your ideas; your great idea taken from the birth month flower of March. See why it’s so easy to love?

Daffodils Flower Killer Or Urban Legend?

This afternoon I received a call from Sandy (Flower Shop Network customer service rep).  With the tone of “say it isn’t so, Joe”, she asked me if daffodils would kill the other flowers in a mixed flower arrangement.  As a defender of the lovely yellow flowers I replied, “I don’t think so.”  It seems that she had been told that daffodils would kill other cut flowers.  As I hung up the phone I wondered, why would someone speak slanderously about this delicate flower.

Now I was on a mission.  I needed to find out if this was an urban legend or some daffodil secret I knew nothing of.  I watch a lot of crime shows, CSI, Criminals Minds and my favorite The Mentalist.  So I applied a few of their techniques to obtain my answer.

Here is what I know about daffodils. They are in the narcissus family and members of the narcissus family when cut produce a harmful stem clogging sap.

Here is what I know about making cut flowers last. Pre-treatments and pre-conditioning are a must for cut flowers.  Pre-treatments are usually done by the growers.  Pre-conditioning is a task performed by the receiving florist and very important for the longevity of cut flowers.  Most flowers receive the same pre-conditioning as soon as they hit the door and you can go from one variety to another without any problems.

However, certain flowers need special procedures to ensure their health and the health of the flowers around them.  This is true in the case of daffodils.  They must be conditioned separately from all other flowers. Why? Because of the sap that drains from the stems when you cut them.  If the sap is absorbed by the other flowers, it will clog their stems thus shutting off their ability to stay hydrated.

OK,  here is where I see Urban Legend status emerging.

Some florist some where didn’t pre-condition their daffodils correctly.  When flowers started dying in mixed flower arrangements containing daffodils, they blame the daffodils and not the conditioning practices of their shop.  (This is kind of like blaming drinking water for cholera instead of the unsanitary practices that allowed waste material to flowing into the drinking water.)  Of course this florist started spreading the word and all of a sudden a misunderstanding became an Urban Legend. This has probably caused some wonderful florists to believe that daffodils are flower killers. When in actuality, they can live harmonious with others as long as they are conditioned properly.

So for those of you convinced that the Urban Legend about Daffodils is true, try this experiment.  Condition some daffodils the correct way and then arrange them with some flowers.  Wait and watch.  Do they last as long as any mixed flower arrangement would.

Follow these pre-conditioning steps for daffodils.

1.  Prepare your daffodils after all other flowers have been prepped.

2.  Fill a container with cool water and add a professional floral food.  The water in the container should be shallow to avoid stem deterioration in the daffodils.

3. Cut at least 1/2″ off of the daffodil stem and place in the container with the floral solution.

4. Leave the daffodils in the container for at least 6 hours before you use them.

5. DO NOT recut the stems when arranging them.  Cutting them will release the sap and you don’t want that to happen.

If you follow these steps, you shouldn’t have any trouble using daffodils with other flowers.  Of course the best way to use daffodils with other flowers is in floral foam arrangements.  You will have less of a chance of sap leakage in a foam arrangement than in a vase arrangement.

I hope my investigative skills have proven that the killer daffodil is an urban legend based on a simple misunderstanding.

***Tip for working with daffodils – For support insert a chenille stem or a section of leather leaf stem into the hollow of a daffodil stem and then insert it into the floral foam.***

December Babies Can’t Resist The Narcissus!

Look hard upon the beautiful Narcissus
It’s grace never failing to enthrall
This thing with so much intrigue
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect bloom
The young daffodil that stirs us all

When I learned that Narcissus is the birth month flower of December, I began rereading the story of Narcissus in Greek mythology. Though the story itself is somewhat tragic, it leaves quite a lot to be said for the remarkable beauty of the Narcissus. [Read more…]

Big Buds But No Daffodil Blooms – Why?

Ask the Expert: Why wont my buds on my daffodils bloom?

My daffodils come up, get big buds on them but the buds never open???

Let the Daffodils Go Free

Ask the Expert: tie off daffodils?
After 27 years in Florida we moved to mid Georgia where gardening is a whole different game. My neighbor told me she was told that after the daffodil blooms die to tie the green in a bundle by knotting it together. I thought it needed the greenery to develop new bulbs. What is correct?  Kathy

Spring Has Sprung With An Abundance of Spring Flowers

Despite the bad weather occurring across the nation, mother nature perseveres. Spring flowers like tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils have been popping up all over the place. Every day on my way to work, I pass a house with a driveway lined in daffodils. It is an absolutely amazing display. My mother’s hyacinths and tulips are gorgeous this year. They even survived the storm last week that blew the fence down behind them.

It is refreshing to see these flowers and to know that spring is once again upon us. It seems these spring flowers are exciting to everyone. In fact, Steve Pelham (our VP of Technology) snapped a picture of these beautiful daffodils in the yard where his daughter Alice was participating in an Easter Egg Hunt.

Spring Daffodils - Narcisscus

Many of you may have daffodils in your yard or may have received potted daffodils last Sunday for Easter. If so, you might be interested in Caring for Daffodils.

Now is the time to Welcome Spring and enjoy all the flowers you can.

If Easter Flowers Could Talk…

Many of my fondest memories as a child with my mother and grandmother took place out of the window of a small, slowly creeping car as we drove by fields, stones, and structures of personal significance to the two older ladies. Few moments were as special as the first time we, along with my younger sister, stopped on the side of the road for our first view of the magnificent spring blooms. At that moment, neither my sister Shannon nor I could pronounce the name Narcissus for the beautiful daffodils (jonquils) lining the road ways. Neither did we know of the many stories that shroud these gentle blooms with popularity. What Shannon and I did know is that our mother and her mother seemed completely enamored by the sweeping flow of the delicate, pure white or yellow daffodil blooms. Both ladies meandered into the ditch to feel the petals for themselves and to pull one from the earth for each of us to hold. My sister and I, though then confounded at the sight of the women prodding through the dirt for a mere flower, now recall the story affectionately with each other and our friends.

Our grandmother, considering herself somewhat a story aficionado, regales us yearly with another story as we present her with the first blooms of the season. Sometimes new, sometimes not, Shannon and I never tire of the expression on her face as she first sees the brightly colored flowers and the smooth and gentle green stems. For just a moment our grandmother is a child again, as much a child as we ever were. The lines and age of her face fade and, even for just a split second, she’s a little girl standing with her sister and gazing in awe at the sight of her mother bending and stooping in a dirty ditch for just a simple Easter flower.

It was only when I began working for Flower Shop Network that I realized how many different flowers are called Easter flowers. Though I consider the dutch master daffodil my Easter flower, many other flowers herald the celebration of spring, purity, hope, and restoration and so are regarded as Easter flowers. Daisies, brightly colored tulips, hyacinths, crocus, potted azaleas, Easter lilies and a host of other flowers help welcome the new season.

Arguably the most popular Easter flower is the Lilium longiflorum or Easter lily. The graceful white blooms are spotted at Easter plays and spring celebrations across the nation and are widely accepted as the quintessential Easter flower. This is almost comical considering that this flower is naturally a June and July bloomer.

Easter flowers, whichever variety, probably hold a special story related to a beautiful occasion, cherished gift, or beloved friend or relative. As unique as each new spring day are the flowers that help celebrate birth in the new year, hope for a brighter morning, passing of the dreary gray season, the purity and miracle of life, and as many other beautiful emotions and memories as the pure white or yellow petals on along the roadside as viewed from a small, slowly creeping car.

Potted Daffodils (Narcissus) sometimes called jonquils Daffodils – My Grandmother’s Easter Flower.

Potted Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum) Easter Lily know to many as the Easter flower.

What is the Flower Meaning for Daffodils

Valentine’s Day has past but that doesn’t mean the need for sending flowers is gone. Birthdays, anniversaries, and other flower giving events are still occurring. When sending flowers it is fun to let the flowers speak for you. You can choose flowers that represent the emotion you want to convey. The flower meanings for daffodils for example are:

  • regard
  • unrequited love
  • you’re the only one
  • the sun is always shining when I’m with you
  • chivarly

So try this sometime: Send your girlfriend a vase of daffodils to let her know “she’s the one”.

You can Learn more at Flower Meanings

Christmas Cactus, Paperwhite Narcissus and Other Holiday Plants

It’s that time of year when the weather outside turns frightful — or at least a bit chilly — and, in northern climates anyway, there’s nothing blooming outside. So it’s natural to crave a little holiday cheer indoors in the form of live blooming plants. Your local flower shop can fix you up with several choices, from the ubiquitous poinsettia to an exotic bromeliad (click HERE for poinsettia care tips in a previous newsletter). Two long-time favorites that are available right now are the old-fashioned Christmas cactus and the deliriously fragrant paperwhite narcissus. We’ll talk about the Christmas cactus first.

The Christmas Cactus

Christmas CactusThe plants most commonly known as Christmas cactus are members of either of two species: Schlumbergera or Zygocactus. The many cultivars of Schlumbergera bridgesii are the most commonly available, with flower colors ranging from red to white with every shade of peach, pink, fuchsia, and even yellow in between. The Christmas cactus is an epiphytic (tree- dwelling) succulent plant, native to the warm, humid rainforests of Central and South America, and while it is botanically a true cactus, it should not be treated like those fat, spiny cacti found in the deserts of the southwestern United States.

Christmas Cactus Care

Christmas cactus care is fairly easy. It does well if given plenty of light (but no direct, burning sun) and regular watering during the growing season of spring and summer. A little extra humidity is appreciated too, which can be accomplished by misting the plant frequently with water. Keep the plant warm. Soil should be well-drained, and the pot ought to be a little snug.

Forcing A Christmas Cactus To Bloom

In the fall, gradually reduce the amount and frequency of watering and begin to prepare the plant for dormancy. This is how to get a Christmas cactus to bloom. Being a so-called “short day” plant (just like the poinsettia), a Christmas cactus requires as least 12 hours of completely uninterrupted darkness every night for about three weeks beginning October 1st. This long period of darkness each night induces the plant to set flower buds, and even the light from an overhead fixture or a street lamp outside the window can disrupt the cycle. During dormancy, maintain the soil on the dry side, but never completely dried out so that the plant shrivels. Cool nighttime temperatures are preferred for buds to set — around 60° F. Beware, however, that buds and flowers may drop if the plant is too cold, too wet, or in a draft.

After flowering, the Christmas cactus will need a rest. Continue to water infrequently and provide cooler night temperatures. In spring, resume normal watering, keep the plant warm and humid, and fertilize every two weeks or so throughout the growing season with a balanced house plant food. Given proper care, a happy Christmas cactus can live for decades.

Paperwhite Daffodils For Christmas

There are no flower bulbs better for forcing than the paperwhite narcissus (daffodils), and they’re usually available right about now. You can either buy the pre-cooled, loose narcissus bulbs by themselves, or ask your florist for some paperwhites that have already been potted up and are beginning to sprout. In either case, the bulbs have already been subjected to an imposed dormant period, making forcing easier. Besides paperwhites, loose narcissus bulbs are also available in a yellow variety called ‘Soleil d’Or’. Select large, firm bulbs. You can plant them closely together in a pot, burying the bulbs just up to the neck in a well-drained soil mixture. Keep the soil evenly moist. Or place them in a shallow dish which is filled with gravel to support the bulbs. Keep the dish full of water. Start them off in a dark, cool spot until they begin to sprout.

Growing Paperwhites

As the narcissus bulbs start to grow, place them in a very bright, sunny window. The maximum amount of light will help keep the growing foliage and flower scapes from stretching and becoming weak and leggy. If the stems do get too weak, support them with slender green plant stakes. Keep the bulbs cooler at night to promote stocky growth.

Paperwhite Blooming Indoors

Forcing paperwhites indoors generally produces flowers in 3 or 4 weeks. Make successive plantings to enjoy a longer blooming period. Bulbs that have been forced usually won’t bloom again, so it’s best to discard them after they’ve flowered.

With a little advance planning — or some help from your local florist — it’s possible to have flowers blooming indoors all winter long. What a lovely way to brighten the season! And of course, a gift of flowers is always appreciated. All of us at Flower Shop Network wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful holiday.