Here are some easy methods to assist you to get the most longevity out of your blooms if you’ve received flowers from a reputable florist.

Prepare a vase with fresh, tepid water and add the provided flower food. If you haven’t received flower food, it means that your particular blooms don’t need any. To ensure that every stem in your bouquet will be able to receive water, take away all of the wrappings and recut each stem at a 45-degree angle with a pair of sharp scissors. Keep your flowers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Please trim your stems again and replace the water in your vase every two to three days for the best vase life.

The flower foods that come with your bouquet are energy packets that release energy slowly and are designed for a variety of flowers. Additionally, they will aid in slowing the growth of bacteria in the water.

Flowers were undoubtedly affected by the major transition that 2020 and Covid pushed on businesses. Growers made modifications as demand decreased so they wouldn’t have to discard crops. This makes it more crucial than ever to consult with your florist to select the perfect fit for your special day. They are knowledgeable about what flowers are in season, how much they cost, and which ones go best with your setting. 

What trends can we expect for 2022?

Bright and Bold
Even though pastel colours will never go out of style, the epidemic has given many women more time to browse the internet and social media for ideas. Weddings will have a lot more colour than they did in the past, from citrus to subdued autumnal tones.

Floral Aisles
A novel idea that is gaining acceptance. Adding flowers to each or every other row will create a runway for your entrance that is worthy of social media.

The Narcissus is a flower we all know and love in the Spring, but most people know it as the Daffodil. Here are a few facts about the wonderful Narcissus.

The Narcissus is the first flower to bloom in the Spring, indicating that Winter is finally ending. Because of this, Narcissus was seen to represent rebirth and new beginnings.

The Narcissus is given to celebrate ten years of marriage because it symbolises joy and happiness.

Narcissus is also known as ‘lent lilies’ as they bloom between Ash Wednesday and Easter. 

In China, they believe if a Narcissus blooms in your garden on New Years Day, your house will have good fortune for the rest of the year. 

Most cultures see the Narcissus as a symbol of hope and joy, but in Medieval times, a wilting Narcissus was seen as an omen of death. 

And finally, the Narcissus was not native to England. The Romans introduced it in 300bc.

Most floral arrangements go inside vases, but consider looking for alternative containers if you want to do something more unique like a vintage watering can or mason jar. Be sure to choose a variety of flowers so you can use different colours, sizes, shapes and textures.

Prepare the flowers by cutting the bottom of the stem at a 45-degree angle and removing all the leaves under the waterline.

Arranging the flowers is part of the process to use your creativity to build a stunning, unique floral arrangement. If you are using more than one type of flower in your arrangement, add odd numbers. The perfect floral arrangement will be about one and a half times the height of the container that holds it.

To make the arrangement look full and dense, secure them together with a rubber band. If you plan on placing the flowers inside a clear vase, you may want to find a clear rubber band.

Sometimes when you buy cut flowers, they do not come with a packet of flower food or maybe you like to cut flowers from your own garden to bring in the house. For either of these instances, your cut flowers will last much longer if they are given some flower food and you can easily make some yourself. Normal tap water typically has too high of a ph level for flowers to tolerate for very long.

DIY Flower Food

1. Citrus Fruits- squeezed from a lemon, orange or lime, are great for feeding flowers but should be used if the vase is coloured or tinted as the citrus could stain.

2. Lemonade- for a clear vase you can use a clear lemonade. Don’t use diet lemonade as the flowers need sugar or you could always stir in a teaspoon of sugar into diet lemonade before adding flowers.

3. Vinegar and Sugar- mixing two tablespoons of sugar with two tablespoons of vinegar in one litre of lukewarm water is another useful homemade flower food.

Flower water should be changed every two-three days to keep flowers at their freshest.

It is lovely to receive a beautiful bouquet, but don’t you wish they stay fragrant and beautiful longer? There are a few steps you can take to help keep that bright, mood-lifting floral arrangement last longer.

1. Upon receiving, or first bringing home a bunch of cut flowers, you should trim them stems by using a sharp knife instead of scissors and cutting the stem at an angle.

2. Next, remove any unnecessary leaves. Any leaves that will be in the water upon filling the vase or container need to be removed.

3. Do not remove the thorns on roses. This creates scars on the stems and shortens the life of the flowers.

4. Keep the bouquet cool by ensuring it is kept away from direct sunlight or heat sources. You may even cool in a fridge a few hours before displaying in your home.

5. If you intend to cut flowers from your garden, collect them in the early evening after they have had all day to store water and food.

6. Be sure to use a very clean vase. It is best if the vase has been rinsed in water with a little bleach added to it.

7. If you have a flower food packet, try using half the first time you fill the vase, then when the water needs changing out, use the other half of the packet.

More and more people are deciding not to buy new garden planters when they can simply repurpose or upcycle an item they already have lying around and turn it into something beautiful. This is a great way to get your creative juices flowing and also reduce waste.

Old tyres are a trending item to get creative with and turn into colourful and creative garden planters. They have been shaped and painted into graceful swans, vibrant peacocks, and elegant teacups!

Some examples of other items being used are old wellies, a chest of drawers, hollowed out logs, old chairs, chandeliers, plastic soda bottles, old steel drums, bicycles, kettles, broken clay pots and even old jeans!

It is incredible what a little imagination and a fresh bit of paint can do. If you find it hard to think of some ideas on your own, check out what others are doing online. There are so many incredible ideas out there, please try something new (or not so new in this case) and get repurposing!

Have you ever received a lovely bunch of flowers that you would love to keep for longer? You may be wondering if you can plant cut flowers and if they will grow roots. The good news is that you can generally plant most cut flowers. With some TLC and the right nutrients, they should grow roots.

To start you will need to act whilst the bouquet is still fresh. You will need a piece of the stem that contains two or three sets of leaf nodes, remove any flowers or leaves on the bottom nodes.

Dip the bottom of the stem in hormone powder which you can purchase from most garden centres. You will now need to plant your stem into a soilless mix such as half sand and half moss. You cannot plant into regular soil.

Place into a plastic bag and inflate slightly by blowing into it and tying with an elastic band, this will keep it moist until it has roots. Place in a warm location but not in direct sunlight and patiently wait for your stem to grow roots.

2020 has been the year for nude and dusty colours so far and it isn’t looking like this trend will be disappearing any time soon. So, what type of flowers can you place in your home to match your homes neutral interior.

If you are looking for pale pinks or light purples such as lilac then dusty pink roses, soft pink gerberas, or lavender tulips are great choices for you. These colours will look amazing paired with white or creamy flowers.

If you are looking for peachy or rusty shades of orange then Narcissi Vanilla Peach, or Dianthus Peach Party flowers will be a great option for you and a lovely addition to your home’s interior.
White and creamy flowers are the perfect addition to any home and in keeping with pretty much any interior colour scheme, opt for cream or white roses or orchids.

Stinging nettles are a tall growing weed which many gardeners are not fond of. Their tiny hairs can give quite a nasty sting which can quite a while. Although they are a difficult weed to remove there are a few ways to do the job.

Dig them up – this is by far the most effective method of removing them for good but will require some effort. You should always try and cut them back before they have had a chance to flower and set seed. Wear a good strong pair of gloves and make sure all of your arms and legs are covered by clothing to avoid nasty stings, you will need to dig up the whole root to try and prevent them from returning.

if you have struggles digging them up or aren’t capable of doing so you can choose to use a weed killer. You will need a strong weed killer which contains glyphosate – but be careful not only will this weed killer destroy your nettles it will also kill any other plant it comes into contact with. Make sure you protect any surrounding plants with plastic sheets.