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Author: Josh

Christmas in July: Crafting Holiday Arrangements

Posted on by Josh

As the summer sun beams down, many are enjoying the warm weather and outdoor activities. However, at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we’re already immersing ourselves in the holiday spirit, designing and photographing our Christmas arrangements. This early preparation allows us to capture the essence of the season and ensure that every arrangement we offer during the holidays is crafted with the utmost care and creativity.

Our talented team of designers is hard at work, transforming our workshop into a winter wonderland. While it might seem unusual to think about Christmas amidst the summer heat, this is a crucial time for us to conceptualize and bring to life the festive designs that will grace homes and celebrations in December.

In our workshop, you’ll find an array of holiday-themed materials—red carnations, lush evergreens, and ribbons in every shade of Christmas cheer. The process of creating our Christmas arrangements is a blend of creativity and tradition, with each piece carefully crafted to evoke the warmth and joy of the holiday season. From classic arrangements featuring traditional colors and elements to more modern designs with unique twists, our collection aims to cater to diverse tastes and preferences.

Once the designs are complete, the next step is capturing their beauty through photography. This is where the magic truly comes alive. Our photographer works meticulously to ensure that each arrangement is presented in the best possible light, highlighting the intricate details and vibrant colors. The photos we take in July are used throughout the holiday season, helping our customers envision how these beautiful pieces can enhance their own celebrations.

As part of our July design session, we are also creating arrangements for fall and Thanksgiving!

Designing and photographing our Christmas arrangements in July allows us to experiment with new ideas, refine our designs, and ensure that every detail is perfect. It also gives us ample time to plan and prepare for the busy holiday season, ensuring that we can meet the demands of our customers with beautifully crafted arrangements.

15 houseplants that will improve your indoor air quality

Posted on by Josh

Spider plant
Spider plant

For all of its exploration of the galaxy, the space program has accrued many benefits right here on earth. Thanks to NASA, we know that houseplants can purify the air in our homes and workplaces.
NASA originally focused on finding ways to purify the air in orbiting space stations. A 1973 space mission identified 107 volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that were emitted by the synthetic materials inside the spacecraft. It was clear that tightly sealed buildings, whether orbiting in space or on the ground, could cause health problems.

Sick building syndrome

Back on earth, spurred by the energy crisis of the 1970s, the building industry focused on making old and new structures more energy efficient. Without intending to, they also paved the way for trapping pollutants – or what is often called “sick building syndrome.”
Three of the pollutants found in spacecraft – benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene – also are present in homes and offices, emitted by everything from building materials to furnishings to office equipment. Air-tight buildings conserve energy and reduce heating and cooling costs, but they also trap these pollutants.

NASA found that certain houseplants, because they are good at absorbing gases, could remove indoor pollutants. Researchers suggested using one potted plant per 100 square feet of home or office space to improve indoor air quality. One study found that philodendron, spider plant and golden pothos removed 80 percent of the formaldehyde that was introduced into a sealed chamber.

If you want to improve the air quality of your space, you might consider bringing home some of these commonly recommended plants:
1. Heartleaf philodendron
2. Elephant ear philodendron
3. Cornstalk dracaena
4. English ivy
5. Spider plant
6. Janet Craig dracaena
7.Warneckii dracaena
8.Weeping fig
9. Golden pothos
10. Peace lily
11. Selloum philodendron
12. Chinese evergreen
13. Bamboo or reed palm
14. Snake plant
15. Red-edged dracaena
Sources: sunsethillsfoliage.com, coopext.colostate.edu

Poinsettia Facts & Tips for this Christmas and Next

Posted on by Josh

We typically think of the North Pole when it comes to Christmas, but the most popular holiday plant originates with our neighbor to the south.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico and were introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

In fact, Poinsett’s death in 1851 is commemorated every Dec. 12 as National Poinsettia Day.

Did You Know?

  • The colored parts of poinsettias aren’t flowers but bracts (leaves).
  • Poinsettias are not poisonous, to humans or pets: An Ohio State study found that a 50-pound child who ate 500 bracts (leaves) might have a slight tummy ache.
  • Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states. For instance, the 20,000 poinsettias that Royer’s receives each year are from Lancaster County.
  • Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.

Poinsettia Care

Keeping your poinsettia looking great this Christmas takes two easy steps, but did you know with a few more steps you can have a wonderful poinsettia next Christmas as well?

This Christmas

  • When the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, water the plant.
  • Keep the poinsettia in a room with temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees. Keep the plant out of hot and cold drafts, such as those from a heating vent or open door.

Next Christmas

  • When leaves begin to drop, let dry slightly between watering.
  • In late spring (early May) cut back plant to 6 inches, shake free of soil and repot in new potting soil, then resume regular watering. Fertilize with a 30-10-10 fertilizer twice monthly. Stop fertilizing November 1st until December 30th.
  • Place outdoors in a warm sunny location when the temperatures are consistently over 60 degrees.
  • Pinch the tips of new shoots when they reach 6 to 8 inches long until late July. Continue to fertilize every two weeks.
  • Bring indoors before cold nights (early September) and place indoors in full sun. Three to six hours of sunlight is needed.
  • In order for poinsettias to bloom, they must have 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day for 40 days (late September through October). Place in a dark place such as a closet or cover with a bag from early evening and remove the next morning so that the plant is in total darkness.
  • When #6 is followed, your poinsettia will bloom at Christmas, but remember, it only takes 10 minutes of light per day during the time it was dark and your plant won’t bloom until January or February.