Whether it’s for your home or a gift for someone special, flowers add a beautiful aesthetic feel to any setting. When it comes to home decor, flowers transform the feel of your home by giving it a natural and colorful look. There’s something about flowers that exudes a positive atmosphere, giving your home environment a more pleasant vibe.
So how do you choose the right flowers to make this happen? It is essential that you buy fresh flowers so that they last for a long time. We understand that it is a challenge to buy yourself flowers, so we’ve put together a detailed guide to help you do that. With these few tips, you’ll become an expert at setting up your home with some beautifully decorated flowers.
First, there are a few things you should consider before purchasing flowers.
- Figure out the occasion: Different occasions call for different types and colors of flowers. If you’re having a festive evening with guests, choose colorful flowers that have bloomed. If you’d like to simply have some flowers around your home during the week, then you should go for more subtle color combinations and tight bulbs. A romantic evening on the other hand calls for roses.
- Decide where you are going to put them: Are the flowers going to be a centerpiece at the table? Are they going to sit on your bedside table? Will they be off the wall or in a vase? Or are they going to be in small planted bowls? Deciding where they will sit is a crucial step in helping you pick the right size, type, and color of the flowers.
Now, while buying flowers, you have to make sure that you examine them from all angles. Certain giveaways indicate that flowers that are not fresh and will wither easily. Keep an eye out on this checklist to make sure you’re picking fresh flowers.
- The bulbs: When the bulbs of the flowers are tight and closed, it means they are yet to bloom. They will last for a long time.
- The stems: There are several things that you need to keep in mind while examining the stem. Make sure the stem is wet at the time of purchase. This means that the florist has stored the flowers in water. Next, squeeze the stem and make sure it is firm, not bendy, or broken. Check the ends of the stems and pick ones that are green or white. If they are brown or yellow, don’t buy them. The stem should also be green and look healthy. If it has a brown or yellowish tinge, bacteria have entered the stem and it is not fresh.
- The leaves: The leaves on the stems should be green and healthy. If they are brown, yellow, or dry towards the tips, avoid buying them. Look out for brown or white spots on the stems where leaves may have fallen off. Fallen leaves mean that the flowers are old and will wither away soon.
- The petals: When you touch the petals, they should feel firm and crisp. Soft petals tend to wither sooner.
- Seeds and Pollen: Look to see if there are seeds or pollen inside the flowers. The presence of these indicates that the flowers are past their prime.
- The Calyx and Sepals: The calyx and sepals form a cup-like holding for the flowers, joining them to the stem. You want to pick firm, green, and healthy cups that will hold the flowers firmly for a long time.
- Keep an open mind: If you have something specific in mind, you may not always find it at the florist. Flowers are seasonal and sometimes you might find beautiful healthy daisies as opposed to roses with petals falling off. You’d rather pick the healthier flowers that will last longer.
- Choose seasonal flowers: Flowers that are in season will surely bloom for a longer period. They have evolved to adapt to the conditions of particular seasons and bloom well during that time.
The journey doesn’t end here. Once you’ve bought flowers, it is important that you provide the right environment for them to bloom. This will make them last for as long as possible. Here’s how.
- Use clean water: Fill the vase with clean water. You don’t want it to be muddy and brown when you put your flowers inside.
- Clean the stems: Once you’ve purchased your flowers, you need to clean the stems at home to make sure there’s no dirt or bacteria on the surface.
- Trim and re-trim the stems: Cut off about 2 inches (5.08 cm) of the stem once you buy it. This will prolong the freshness and make sure more water goes in. You can continue to trim the stems after a few days to keep the freshness up.
- Control the temperature: Keep your flowers in a cool place. A warm/hot area with too much sunlight can dry them up much faster. You also want to occasionally use lukewarm water in the vase. This helps the base of the stem open and let more water in.
- Use a natural flower preservative: Home remedies can help you keep your flowers fresh over time. A little of soda can help retain freshness. You can even use a small amount of bleach or vodka to kill harmful microorganisms.
Another crucial step is finding the right place to buy yourself flowers. A florist that is trained and knowledgeable can help you make the best choice and give you exactly what you need. Here are some places where you can buy yourself fresh flowers and you can choose the ones that suit you best.
- Supermarket: The nearby supermarket is a convenient place to shop for flowers. However, they do have a limited range of flowers to choose from, but you end up saving a lot of time and effort.
- Street stalls: Street stalls tend to have limited but fresh and unique set of flowers. This is another good option for you to try out.
- Florist: The most obvious choice would be to go to a nearby florist. Make sure you conduct a thorough inspection using the tips mentioned above to ensure that your florist knows his flowers.
- Online: Because we live in a digital world, you can order flowers online from the comfort of your home. Online marketplaces unfortunately have the disadvantage of you not being able to see and check the flowers before your purchase. In this case, you will have to go through a few vendors before you find someone that you’re happy with.
- Events: Flee markets and other such events are another great place to find unique flowers for yourself. Keep an eye out for local events in your city to grab a hold of these.
- Studios: Flower studios specialize in selling good quality flowers. These are usually set up by home-makers or flower enthusiasts that offer a wide range of choices.
So there you have it. A detailed guide on how to buy yourself flowers. Choosing the right flowers can be time-consuming, but once you’ve made the effort, the rewards are extremely satisfying. Happy shopping!