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Author: Amber

Best Practices for Caring for Houseplants

Posted on by Amber

International Plant Appreciation Day is April 13 and is the perfect time to refresh your plant parent skills and make sure you are correctly caring for your houseplants. 

Are your plants getting enough water? Too much or too little sunlight? Did they get neglected during the winter months? 

We’re here to help.

Guide to caring for houseplants

Water correctly

Each plant has different watering needs. Watering all plants at one time is not ideal – it’s important to pay attention to your plant to determine if it needs watering. Be sure to research your specific plant to determine how regularly it needs watering, but a good way to test most plants is by placing your finger in the soil. If the top inch is dry, it likely needs water.

Be sure not to give a plant too much water. This can cause root rot. Water only until the soil feels damp, but not overly saturated. 

Also, be sure to water only on the soil and not on plant leaves. Doing so can increase a plant’s risk of sunburn.

This is the “traditional” way of watering plants. However, you can also place your plant in a tray with water and let the roots drink up how much water they want/need. Which method you should use depends on your plant type and your preference.

Ensure the correct sun exposure

Every plant has unique light requirements, however, most indoor plants prefer having bright, indirect light. This means placing them in a spot that will receive sun, but not directly, for 6-8 hours a day.

If your home doesn’t have any good spots for getting natural light, you can invest in LED growing lights. Plants will need to be in this light source for 16-18 hours a day if they are receiving no natural light.

In the warmer months, especially summer, be careful with how much exposure your plants get to the sun. Don’t place any plants in or near a south-facing window during the summer as they can get burnt.

Regulate temperature & humidity

A typical house plant’s ideal temperature is about 75°F. The most important component with temperature, however, is keeping the area where your plant is housed within a consistent temperature range.

Don’t place plants where they can get a draft or receive direct heat – so avoid placement near windows that are frequently opened, doors, vents and heaters.

As for humidity, most plants, especially tropical ones, prefer 40-50% humidity. There are a couple of ways you can increase the humidity in your plant’s environment:

  • Buy a humidifier and place it near your plants
  • Keep plants clustered together – the water evaporating from the soil will increase the humidity around all of the plants.
  • Place plants on trays with pebbles and water – The water will evaporate and increase the humidity around the plant.

Fertilize

Fertilizer isn’t just for your outdoor garden. In the warmer months, regularly give fertilizer to your houseplants according to the instructions on your specific fertilizer and the type of plant(s) you have.

Keep plants clean

Houses get dusty and there can be a lot of unseen particles in the air. Dusty/dirty leaves can block a plant from getting the necessary sunlight. 

To clean them, regularly wipe their leaves with a damp paper towel.

Lookout for pests

While you are cleaning your plants, keep an eye out for any bugs. Check the leaves and stems thoroughly to ensure there are none hiding. If you see any, immediately remove them either directly, with a stream of water, or by wiping them off.

Penn State Extension offers guidance on how to identify which common houseplant pest problem you might be dealing with HERE.

Repot when needed

Has your plant outgrown its container? If your plant looks crowded in its pot, don’t be afraid to repot it to a bigger container. Spring, when plants are actively growing and no longer dormant, is the best time to repot plants. 

When repotting your plant, carefully remove the plant and its roots and place in a new, clean container with fresh soil. Immediately water the plant to help it with its acclimation process.

Consider moving houseplants outside

Once the threat of frost, freezing temperatures, and snow has passed, it is a great time to send your plants on vacation. Even though placing your houseplants outside exposes them to more elements out of your control, it can be good for your plants who have been “cooped up” all winter. 

Be sure to bring your plants back inside before it gets too hot!

If you follow these steps, you can have a happy and thriving indoor jungle!

Easter Basket Ideas for Adults

Posted on by Amber

Why should the kids have all the fun? Surprise your bestie or significant other with a grown-up Easter basket this year to celebrate the season!

What to include in an adult Easter basket:

Chocolate

Every Easter basket, no matter the age of the recipient, should include chocolate. It’s not Easter without a little indulgence in tasty treats.

We offer a wide selection of chocolates. Our Asher Milk Chocolate Pretzels and Waggoner Buckeye Box (4.15 oz) will fit perfectly in any sized Easter basket.

Small Plants

If your recipient is a plant mom or dad, you know what they really want – more plants. Our Decorated Calandiva is a great size for baskets and features a cute spring-themed pot with a heart flower design.

Although it might not fit inside your Easter basket, our pink tulip plant, which features 6 blooms, is a great addition to your Easter gift.

Coffee Mug

It’s the time of year when a cup of coffee or tea can be enjoyed in the morning on a front porch or patio, taking in the warm spring air. Include a cheery coffee mug into your Easter basket as a practical, but adorable, gift for your recipient.

We have a collection of bee-themed mugs perfect for this time of year.

Tea

You can’t go wrong with gifting tea, especially our collection of Tea Forte tea boxes that include a wide variety of flavors in each box, so there’s something for every taste.

Tea Forte has many floral and spring-centered collections including their cherry blossom tea collection (Hanami), their collection inspired by The New York Botanical Gardens (Fleur), and their fruity and floral collection (Mariposa).

A Stuffed Animal

Another staple for any Easter basket is a stuffed animal. Of course, a plush bunny is the obvious choice. We have an adorable “Oddball Mini Bunny” if you’re looking for a unique rabbit.

We have lots of other plush if you want something other than a bunny. We have multiple spring-related palm pals that could easily fit in any basket including:

Spring Decor

Help your recipient refresh their space in colors and themes of the season with spring decor. Consider including decorative mushrooms, rabbits, bee hives, or birds in your Easter basket for a fun touch.

Garden/Outdoor Decor

For those who will be spending spring in the garden, include some garden decor in their basket. We have a collection of pot hangers that adorn garden pots including dragonflies, butterflies, and a colorful ladybug.

Our smiling ceramic frog or our mushroom with three birds atop it both make perfect spring garden decor and are great Easter gifts.

Add a seasonal stick-in

Finally, complete the Easter basket with a festive stick-in for an added flare. We offer glittering Easter egg stick-ins and a selection of Easter bunny options.

How to include flowers in your Easter celebrations

Posted on by Amber

Easter is just 10 days away! The holiday is a perfect excuse to embrace all things colorful, spring, and floral. If you’re hosting an Easter brunch, dinner, or any other type of celebration, there are so many opportunities to add color to your event with flowers.

1. The Obvious – A Table Center

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. A traditional vase of flowers placed in the center of your dining room table screams spring. It’s a fresh pop of life to celebrate the beauty of the season and should be a staple in your party plans.

2. Seating Chart Helpers

If you’re opting for a more formal Easter brunch that includes assigned seating, consider tying name tags to a single flower’s stem that your guests can then take home as a favor. Even if you’re not seating people in specific seats, this is still a fun idea to include just a little tied card that says “Happy Easter” with the flower on top of the plates.

3. Use Them As A Prize

Are you having an adult Easter egg hunt or playing other party games? Have a colorful bouquet of flowers as the prize for the winner. It’s a perfect spring-themed prize that will be appreciated by all.

4. Craft With Them

Consider crafting with flowers as part of your Easter activities. If your guests are crafty, lead them in a craft including flowers. You can make flower crowns or press the flowers to make art or greeting cards. Your guests would have a fun take-home item to remind them of your party.

View our collection of Easter flowers here – Royer’s Easter Flowers

We’ve collaborated with Troegs Brewing

Posted on by Amber

April 7 was National Beer Day and to celebrate we collaborated with Troegs Brewing in Hershey.

We paired some of our year-round flower arrangements with a few of their current on-tap beers for a photoshoot including:

These three arrangements, plus our Farmhouse Sunset, Medium bouquet, are decorating the tables in celebration of  National Beer Day.

Drinkers and diners can scan the QR code on the sign next to each arrangement to shop the collection. Alternatively, visitors can visit our Royer’s Flowers & Gifts location in Downtown Hershey, about five minutes away from the brewery.

Behind the pairings

Sunshine Pilsner & Sunny Blooms

The Sunshine Pilsner (4.5% ABV) exhibits notes of “bright citrus, flowering herbs and honeyed biscuit”, according to Troegs expert brewers. The floral components made this an excellent choice as well as the brightness. 

The beer’s name and color also compliments our arrangement, Sunny Blooms, perfectly. The sunflowers and daisy poms bright yellow colors blend perfectly with the yellow hue of the Sunshine Pilsner.

Field Study Summer IPA & Backyard Beauty

Their Field Study Summer IPA, which has notes of ripe grapefruit, pear and melon, features a stunning bottle design made of hop vines – evoking images of a summer garden. We paired our Backyard Beauty arrangement with it because they both remind us of a Summer day spent in your backyard with friends and family. Our Backyard Beauty arrangement created this effect with vibrant carnations, sunflowers, roses and hydrangea.

Perpetual IPA & Wildflowers, Green

Troegs Perpetual IPA is the best-selling craft beer in Pennsylvania. The beer has citrus and pine notes with a subtle grain flavor. The bottle art has two hops, one exposed to show a hidden mechanism of gears, encircled in an infinity sign. It celebrates how Troegs combines art with mechanical beer making skills.

We paired our Wildflowers, Green arrangement with this special beer. The green features in our arrangement, such as the mini green hydrangeas, bells of Ireland and mochi carnations interspersed with white daisy poms compliment the colors of the Troegs bottle art.

Family-centered businesses

Just like Royer’s Flowers & Gifts, Troegs is family-owned. What started as two brothers in 1997 has grown into so much more for the brewery, but it remains a family business. It is inspiring and exciting to work with other locally owned and family-operated businesses with a passion to serve the community.

Beer and Flowers? Why?

Beer exists because of flowers. Hops are the flowering parts of the Humulus Iupulus plant that are used to create beer. They are what create the bitter flavor many beer lovers enjoy.

Flowers, the type we at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts sell, are used to celebrate special moments and bring people together. Beer uses flowers, of course a different type, to do the same thing. 

So, head to Troegs and then stop by Royer’s over the next couple of weeks and enjoy the versatility and beauty of flowers.

  • A behind the scenes shot of us preparing to take an image courtesy of Troegs
  • Behind the scenes
  • Behind the scenes

Easter flowers – their meanings and history

Posted on by Amber

Easter celebrations, whether at church, a special brunch, or a family Easter egg hunt all typically have one thing in common – flowers are present. 

They add beauty, elegance and whimsy to the celebrations while highlighting the beauty of the spring season. Many of the same types of flowers are used in Easter celebrations year after year, such as lilies and tulips. 

This isn’t coincidental; each Easter flower has a reason for being part of the celebrations.

White Lily

Meaning

The white lily is typically the first flower people think of in association with Easter. According to the University of Nevada, Reno, this can be linked to its mention in the Bible. It is associated with rebirth and new beginnings, specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on Easter.

Pagans also hold “Easter” Lilies in high regard. Their beliefs connect the flower to motherhood and it is typically given to mothers as a thanks.

The University of Nevada, Reno notes that multiple other religions connect white lilies to purity and grace.

History

White lilies, initially located in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, were introduced to England in 1819 and America in 1880, according to the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Today, as a result of wars and political issues, there are only a handful of American growers of white lilies on the Oregon-California border in a location known as the Easter Lily Capital of the World. 95% of potted Easter Lily bulbs come out of this area.

Tulip

Meaning

Tulips are popular Easter flowers because they are in bloom around the holiday and come in a variety of colors, many of which match the aesthetics of Easter. Some of the colors have meanings that are also associated with the holiday.

According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the colors’ meanings are associated with rebirth and purity. For example, yellow tulips represent happiness and hope. White tulips represent purity and honor.

History

Tulips are believed to be native to the Mediterranean. According to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society, in the 1590s, Charles L’Ecluse planted a tulip in Holland at the University of Leiden’s gardens to discover that it could grow in the harsh Northern European climate. 

Tulips became a symbol of the elite because of their rarity in Holland, and their trading became popular. This resulted in what is called “Tulip Mania” in Amsterdam from 1634 to 1637 which caused a single tulip bulb to allegedly cost as much as 12,000 guilders, which was the price of an Amsterdam townhouse at the time, according to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society. Tulips still continue to be important to the Netherlands economy today, in large part to tourism.

Tulips made their way to America in 1642 and were growing in settlers gardens in now-Manhattan. In 1698 according to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society. It was reported that a settler in what is New Jersey today was growing tulips. However, it wasn’t until the American Revolution that tulips were fully established in American gardens.

Daffodils

Meaning

The Farmer’s Almanac states that Daffodils represent new life and became associated with Easter because they bloom around the holiday. 

In England, they refer to daffodils as “Lent lilies” because of their long-standing association with Lent.

History

According to Penn State, daffodils were originally from Europe and northern Africa, but did not become popular in ornamental gardening until the late 1800s. 

Easter Cactus

Meaning

Although not a flower, but a houseplant that flowers, Easter Cactuses are rooted in Easter tradition because of when they bloom. According to the Farmers Almanac, the Easter Cactus is also a symbol of rebirth, a theme of Easter.

History

The Easter cactus should not be confused with the Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus. The Easter cactus has rounded leaf edges with tiny brownish hairs on the tips of the leaf, as opposed to Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti that have spikey leaves.

The Easter cactus comes from the coast of Brazil and is thought to have been introduced to Europe in the 18th century, according to the University of Arkansas.

Flowers add something special to celebrations, especially at Easter. They bring life and color into gatherings and help create connections and memories when given as gifts for holidays.

Although these are the “traditional” Easter flowers, any flower can help elevate and enhance your holiday gatherings.

Spring Bucket List

Posted on by Amber

Spring is officially here! 

The season of warmth, growth,and new beginnings deserves to be celebrated properly. We’re here to help you embrace all things spring.

We’ve created our spring bucket list to help you get the most out of this season.

Spring Bucket List

Get fresh flowers

Add to or start your houseplant collection

Garden

Visit a public garden for inspiration

Have a picnic

Embrace spring cleaning and re-decorate

Make a cup of floral tea

Listen to windchimes

Go on a hike

Go for a drive with the windows down

Host a tea party

Go birdwatching

Make a fairy garden

Surprise a friend with a bouquet

Visit a lake

We hope you have a beautiful spring season filled with endless flowers and fun!

What is Yellow Flower Day?

Posted on by Amber

Yellow Flower Day, celebrated on March 21, was created from a social media trend. It is also unofficially celebrated on September 21.

March 21 was already a celebration for floral lovers, as it is National Flower Day and the spring equinox, but with the help of social media, especially TikTok, the focus began shifting to yellow flowers.

How it started

A popular Argentine telenovela “Floricienta” is about a woman who wants to be given yellow flowers. It is emphasized that the meaning of being given specifically yellow flowers is that they represent hope and true love.

The show caused a song, “Flores Amarilla (Yellow Flowers)” that was played in the series to start trending as a background audio.

The videos initially took hold in Argentina, where the telenovela originates, but quickly spread to other cultures through multiple platforms.

The other holiday

March 20, the day before, is also International Happy Day. Many people associate the color yellow with the feeling of happiness, so celebrating the period with yellow flowers made sense.

What it means now

The trend seems to have a lasting effect for now, especially in the United States. Significant others tend to give each other yellow flowers to show their love on this day. Friends also exchange yellow flowers on March 21 to express their love for their friends.

Florists can confirm that when March 20 and March 21 come around, yellow flowers are bought up rapidly. 

Our Yellow Flower Suggestions

We have a variety of arrangements that highlight yellow flowers that are perfect to gift for Yellow Flower Day:

It is also tulip season, and you might be able to find yellow tulips in-store inside our cooler, depending on supply.

If you are not pre-ordering your flowers for Yellow Flower Day, we suggest arriving early to the shop to secure your desired flowers.

Best gift ideas for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on by Amber

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t typically thought of as a holiday where people give gifts, but these themed and thoughtful items are great for a fun surprise to make your favorite people smile.

They are also great options for host gifts if you are headed out for a party with friends or family. 

Here’s some St. Patrick’s Day gift inspiration:

Give them a rainbow

For the one who brings color into your life, gift them the rainbow with our colorful “Rainbow Smiles” arrangement. It’s a cheery way to show you care and a great decoration for the recipient to display for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

Themed Arrangements

A themed flower arrangement is a perfect gift option for the St. Patrick’s Day party host. They went through a lot of work to create a fun night for everyone and giving them flowers that will last weeks shows your appreciation.

We have two other St. Patrick’s Day themed flower arrangements: “Shamrock” and “Luck of the Irish”.

“Shamrock” features two sparkly clovers amongst yellow carnations, green mini hydrangea and white daisy poms.

“Luck of the Irish” is a more subtle nod to the holiday. It includes a gold-orange vase, similar to the color of gold in the pot at the end of the rainbow, and features a sunflower, green hydrangea and white and yellow daisy poms.

Snacks

If you’re looking to thank a party host, our Happy Flower & Candy Set featuring a “Thank you” plush flower is a good option. The host will need to refuel after the party and what better way than chocolate?

If you’re not sure what to bring to the St. Patrick’s Day party, try one of our snack baskets. There’s something for everyone to enjoy while they celebrate.

Our Tootsie Pop Flower Pot is a hit for kids. Its rainbow colors match the St. Patrick’s Day theme and is a small way to include them in celebrations.

A Green Stuffed Animal

You’re never too old for a comforting and cute stuffed animal. Gift a green stuffed animal to keep with the St. Patrick’s Day theme. If you’re considering giving a gift basket, this would be a perfect addition. 

We have many plush options, but our Ryker Rex Plush is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-green stuffed friend.

How to Celebrate International Women’s Day

Posted on by Amber

International Women’s Day sometimes goes by without notice for many – men and women alike. However, the holiday, celebrated March 8, should be one you have noted on your calendar.

It’s right at the beginning of Women’s History Month and is the perfect excuse to uplift the women in your life. Taking the time to show them you care on March 8 will mean the world to them.

If you’re not sure how to celebrate, we’re here to help. Consider one, or multiple, of these options to help the important women you are surrounded by feel special.

Send them flowers

Everyone loves flowers. Sending the women in your life flowers, whether it’s your sister or significant other, is an easy, but meaningful, way to show you support and appreciate them. 

Send them a card

Include a note of gratitude and appreciation for everything they do with the flowers. Tell them how important they are in your life and the impact they have on you. 

Gift a plant to your mom or mother figure

If you’re looking for a gift for your mom or mother figure for International Women’s Day consider a plant. Include a note or card that says “Thank you for helping me grow” to thank them for the role they had in shaping you.

Gift self care items

Women work hard. Many wear multiple “hats” of being a full-time worker, mother, homemaker and more. Sometimes that can get overwhelming. In conjunction with helping ease their load however you can, consider giving them comfort items.

Some self-care gift ideas they might appreciate are blankets, tea, a snack basket or chocolates. 

It is important to acknowledge the contributions women make to our society every day, but International Women’s Day is a good opportunity to uplift the special women in your life. Show them they are loved, appreciated and seen and that their hard work in helping make sure the world keeps turning doesn’t go unnoticed.

Learn about our collaboration with Reading District Libraries

Posted on by Amber

Books and flowers? Who doesn’t love being surrounded by either?

To celebrate Read Across America Day (March 3), we collaborated with Reading District Libraries, showcasing some of their children’s and teen books available at the Reading Public Library in downtown Reading, PA.

We paired three of our arrangements, “So Happy”, “Smiley Bowl” and “Best Friend Bouquet, Dog” with some of their books. 

They have many books about flowers at the library, including nonfiction titles like “What’s Inside A Flower” to help children learn about the science of flowers as well as fun flower-related books like “Don’t Touch That Flower!”.

We photographed the books and flowers in front of the library’s iconic “reading rainbow” to highlight the vibrant colors of our flowers.

The Reading Public Library just revamped its reading corner in the children’s section, which has a fun animal theme. It was the perfect location to photograph our bouquet that features a puppy palm pal stuffed animal. 

We paired the arrangement with books about dogs, of course! They had so many fun books about dogs, but we chose “I Want 100 Dogs” and “Love Tails”. 

The Reading Public Library also has an expansive teen space where older kids can come hang out with friends, read, and even play Nintendo Switch. We showcased some of their teen titles as well.

The book “Flowerheart” was a great choice for obvious reasons, but “Lore Olympus”, a very popular teen book, had a cover that blended perfectly with the colors in our “So Happy” arrangement.

How Fresh Flowers can affect reading

In 2005, researchers at Rutgers University published multiple studies that showed that fresh flowers can lead to increased happiness, memory, and social networking.

They found that people who worked in rooms with fresh flowers had an easier time retaining information than those who worked in rooms without flowers.

It has also been found that certain flowers can impact focus, meaning some of them can help those who struggle to devote their attention to a book. The scent of the flowers is what triggers this reaction.

Rosemary has been found to improve cognitive function by up to 75% just because of its scent. Lavender is well-known to reduce stress, which makes it easier to concentrate on tasks like reading.

So, if you have a location you typically enjoy reading in your home, such as your living room or a dedicated home library, consider adding a fresh bouquet of flowers to help you enhance your reading experience.

Happy Reading!