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Category: Flower Care

6 easy ways to get a jump on spring

Posted on by Neal

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The days are getting longer, the sun is getting brighter, and everyone is looking to shake off cabin fever. Spring is almost here, but you can get a jump on the season by bringing bright color and natural beauty into your home.
Here are some easy and cost-effective ideas to get you started:
1. Blooms: Nothing says spring quite like flowering plants. Violets, begonia, kalanchoe, cyclamen and Phaleonopsis orchids are all easy care and just need a home near a bright window for cheerful blooms over an extended period.
Bulb plants such as hyacinths, daffodils and tulips offer an added bonus. In the fall, you can plant the bulbs outside so that they deliver a splash of color next spring.
2. Think green: Green foliage plants add oxygen and humidity back into the air that we breathe and remove some impurities. Rejuvenate and dust off your houseplants. Better yet, pick up a new plant to replace one or two that are tired or to fill a bare corner or tabletop. Add a new basket or ceramic pot cover to add color and enhance your décor.
3. Common scents: Candles aren’t just for the fall and winter holiday seasons any more. Vanilla and lavender are two of the most popular scents, but you’ll find plenty of fresh, clean fragrances and styles of candles that have increased in popularity and are perfect for year-round use. Try a fresh linen or spring floral scent.
4. Bring the outdoors in: Trees and shrubs are just starting to bud. Trim a few branches and bring the outdoors inside to force open the blooms in a vase. Some good choices are forsythia, pussy willow and flowering cherry or crabapple stems, each of which produces colorful blooms.
Becoming more popular are curly willow and red twig dogwood branches. Although these branches do not have visible flowers, they look great in a vase and give texture when you add a few fresh-cut flowers. When you’re at the florist, be sure to pick up floral preservative to add to the water.
5. Front and center: Don’t forget about the front door and porch. Hang branches or a nice door piece for instant spring. Bulb plants, pansies and primrose all do well on a porch or patio. You may have to cover them or bring them inside overnight in case of frost or low temperatures. A cheerful front door will put a smile on your face and on those of your neighbors.
6. Treat yourself: Studies show that flowers are a great weapon against the morning blahs, boost energy and workplace productivity, and improve emotional health. So pick up a mixed handful, a weekly special or even just a few loose stems of your favorites.

National Poinsettia Day is Dec. 12 and other facts about the most popular holiday plant

Posted on by Neal

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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.
Some other facts:

  • The colored parts of poinsettias aren’t flowers but bracts (leaves).
  • Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.
  • 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.
  • Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.

Sources: www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia
 

We talk turkey and other Thanksgiving ideas on Fox 43

Posted on by Neal

If you’re Fox 43 Morning News and you want to talk about Thanksgiving flower and gift trends, you know that Barry Spengler is happy to oblige.
Barry, Royer’s vice president of operations and a regular guest on Fox 43, shared ideas for centerpieces, giftware and hostess gifts with Heather Warner. You can view the segment by clicking here.
Photos from Barry’s appearance:


 

Feed me, Seymour

Posted on by Neal

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A little while back, a customer purchased cut hydrangeas from one of our stores. A brunch was being held in honor of her mother-in-law, and the customer was making hydrangea centerpieces for the occasion.
We placed a special order for the South America-grown flowers, so we knew they were as fresh as could be. Yet the customer was back in our store within 24 hours, her hydrangeas having wilted.
We replaced them so that her needs were met, but in the meantime we recut the original flowers and put them in water with cut-flower food. Within hours, they looked gorgeous again.
The moral to this story? If you’re going to work with cut hydrangeas – lots and lots of consumers are these days, and with good reasons – then don’t skimp on flower food.
Garden feel
Hydrangea flowers have big heads – a single one can be 4 to 8 inches wide – and make a bold statement with great ease. Just plop them in any kind of water-holding container (canning jars are popular) and they look terrific, bringing a garden feel indoors.
Clearly, hydrangeas are popular these days: You’ll find lots of evidence on Pinterest, the online bulletin board. In fact, we incorporated them into a number of our arrangements and deliver loose hydrangeas to our stores a couple of times each week.
Once you get the flowers home, make certain that they have plenty of water that has been mixed with flower food. You can purchase packets of food from your local florist; mix one packet per quart of water.
Hydrangeas represent a great value because you don’t need many of them to make a big impression and, with proper care, they last a long time.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mums the word year-round

Posted on by Neal

Many of us decorate porches and patios with hardy mums in the fall. But a little bit of loving and some attention to the calendar can help you get the most out of your mums and even keep them blooming in a garden for years to come.
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If you planted mums in the ground back in the fall, then the summer months are important in their growth cycle.

Pinching: By July 15, you should pinch the top growth back 1 to 2 inches. This will ensure that your mums bloom in the fall rather than during the summer.

Feeding: From spring through July, nourish your mums twice a month with an all-purpose garden fertilizer mixed in water. Stop feeding in August.
Controlling pests: Aphids are the most common pests that afflict garden mums. These are small soft-bodied insects about the size of a pinhead. They range in color from green to yellow to black. They make their livings by sucking the sap out of tender new growth. To control them, spray an all-purpose insecticide or insecticidal soap on the plants once a week for a couple of weeks. Take care not to spray plants in direct sun or when the temperature is above 90 degrees.

Now, if you are thinking about planting your potted mum for the first time, here are some steps to take:

• Be sure to water your potted mums daily as warm days will make them thirsty. At the same time, too much water can damage the roots; provide drainage in decorative pots or baskets.
• It’s best to plant the mums in October so their roots have time to grow before cold weather sets in.
• Once the mums are planted, water them thoroughly a couple of times each week through mid-November. This will encourage the roots to grow deeply. The deeper the roots, the stronger the plants will be.
• In late spring, cut the plants down 6 to 8 inches above the ground. This will give you bushy, compact plants with lots of flowers. As spring gives way to summer, follow the instructions above relative to feeding and pinching.

Getting the most out of your Valentine’s roses

Posted on by Neal

Valentine’s season can last well beyond Feb. 14. In fact, by following some simple steps, your roses should provide you with a week or more of enjoyment.
All Royer’s arrangements arrive in vases that contain a mixture of water and flower food (FloraLife, in our case). You just need to make sure that there is enough water over time as roses are surprisingly thirsty.
Other tips for getting the most out of your roses:
13-V2For roses that arrive in a vase:
• If your roses don’t begin to open within a few days, remove them from the vase, re-cut their stems and return them to the vase. Although not necessary, cut the stems under water if possible.
• Keep the flowers cool: the cooler they are, the less water they will lose through their stems and petals.
• Add water in a sink so that any spillage will not damage a table or other furniture that the roses are sitting on.
For roses that arrive in a box or loose:
• Put water in the vase and add the packet of flower food that came with your delivery.
• Cut approximately one inch off the bottom of the rose to create a fresh pathway for water to work its way up the stem.
• Remove any foliage or thorns that may get stuck when the stems are placed in the vase.
• If you add any greens, make sure that any foliage is above the water. Foliage under water promotes unwanted bacterial growth.
By following those steps, you’re ready for the final, most important step of all: enjoy your roses!
 

Local florist bests big delivery sites in Yahoo! ‘Savvy Spender’ comparison

Posted on by Neal


Yahoo!’s “Savvy Spender” set out to review four of the top floral delivery sites: 1800Flowers.com, ProFlowers.com, Teleflora and FTD.
But at the end of the day — or approximately 2:40 of this video clip — it was a local florist that outshone the big online retailers.
“To see how a local florist compares to the online experience, we ordered a dozen roses from our neighborhood florist,” said Savvy Spender host Vera Gibbons. “It was by far the most impressive arrangement with the longest stems, the most vibrant roses, and beautiful accents.
“Remember, roses travel all the way from South America, and it takes a professional florist to rehydrate them properly.”

Get Great Flower Tips With These Resources

Posted on by josh

Whether you’d like to learn about making flowers last longer or you’d like a guidance on ordering sympathy flowers, the links below are sure to help. Contact Royer’s Flowers and Gifts at (717) 769-1413 to place your floral order today.
• Check out this article from the University of Minnesota to learn about using floral preservatives to prolong the life of your flowers.
• Read this article from Florists’ Review to learn about the life expectancy of cut roses.
• Check out this page from AskMen.com for some helpful first date tips.
• Take a look at this website to learn about traditional customs when choosing funeral flowers.
• Are you not sure which funeral flowers are appropriate? Visit this page for some helpful advice.

Understanding the Use of Floral Preservatives

Posted on by josh

Fresh flowers such as tulips, roses, lilies, and daisies are a beautiful way to add brightness and cheer to any day. However, unfortunately, these cut flowers won’t last forever. Luckily, floral preservatives can help flowers to last longer than they otherwise would, so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your fresh arrangements.
• What Are Floral Preservatives?
Floral preservatives are a careful mixture of substances that cut flowers need to survive after having been removed from their main plants. Floral preservatives usually come in either a liquid or dissolvable powder form.
• How Do Floral Preservatives Work?
When a flower stem is cut from its mother plant, all access to water and food is severed. Placing the flower in water and providing the appropriate amount and type of light can help the flower to survive for a time, but without a source of food, this time is generally very short.
Flower preservatives are basically an artificial source of food for the flower. When added to the water, flowers are able to remain healthy and beautiful for a period of time. With proper care and an ideal environment, flowers given floral preservative can often survive for one to two weeks in their cut and arranged form, depending on the variety.
• Where Can I Find Floral Preservatives?
Most florists send their fresh flowers out in a floral preservative water mixture. However, when you add or change the water, the preservative is diluted or lost. Ask your florist about single packets of floral preservatives to use after you have changed your flowers’ water.
At Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we offer fresh flowers for all occasions. Visit our website or give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to place an order or to learn more about getting the most out of your fresh flowers.

Fresh-Cut Flower Care Tips

Posted on by josh

 
Knowing how to care for your roses, tulips, and other fresh-cut flowers will help you to get the most enjoyment out of them for the longest amount of time possible.
In this video, you’ll learn a few flower care tips, such as changing the water daily and re-cutting your stems at an angle. Watch the clip for more information.
And if you’d like to order fresh flowers, whether it’s holiday flowers or wedding flowers, then contact us at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 and ask us about our gift baskets and other gift ideas, too.