Valentine’s Day is coming at the end of this week. If you are in a relationship that involves romance, at least one of you is expecting something to signify the day. In my marriage, that one person is my beautiful wife. My gift is seeing the joy she gets when receiving a beautiful flower arrangement. I think flowers for Valentine’s are so well received because they come when flowers of any kind are very scarce.
In doing my research for this article, I was surprised to learn that Valentine’s Day was not the most popular holiday for florists. The most popular is Mother’s Day. I was also surprised to learn that flowers are not the most popular gift for Valentine’s. Flowers come in second behind candy. When I read this, I would have to speculate that gifts for the kids were included in these statistics.
If you have already bought or arranged a gift for your sweetheart, you a true romantic, as you are way ahead of the game. If a Valentine gift is on your “to do” list this week, here are few things you might appreciate knowing if you are buying flowers.
What color flowers should I buy?
If you are giving or receiving flowers for Valentine’s Day, you should know flowers have different meanings. The most common, red roses are the gold standard sign of love and romance. They symbolize beauty and perfection. If you receive red roses you know you are truly loved. Pink roses are also stunning. They are a sign of love and appreciation. White roses are traditionally linked with marriage and spirituality.
There are other symbolic flowers in addition to roses. Lilies symbolize promise, passion, life and fidelity. Carnations signify love, fascination and undying love. Carnations mean good things are coming your way. Chrysanthemums show optimism and joy.
How do I keep them alive as long as I can?
Now that you know what the flowers mean, here are some tips for making them last as long as they can. If the roses did not come in a vase, you should give the stems a fresh cut before placing them in a vase with water. Use a sharp pair of garden shears. Cut them at an angle for better intake of water. You will also need to remove any leaves that will fall below the water line.
Water wisely. The water you place them in should be at room temperature. It is also important change out the old water with fresh water every two to three days.
Keep your flowers in an area where you will avoid changes in temperature. Avoid direct sunlight, heat from a vent or drafts from a door or window. You also should avoid having your bouquet near fruit. This seems odd but ripening fruit releases small amounts of ethylene gas which can reduce the longevity of the arrangement.
Your sweetheart might love plants but not necessarily a fan of cut flowers. Cut flowers can be both colorful and fragrant, but after a couple of weeks they are finished. There are several tropical plants that you will find in bloom.
What flowers should I buy?
African Violets are popular, easy-to-grow flowering houseplants known for their continuous blooms and velvety leaves. They thrive in indoor environments with proper care.
Cyclamens are tuberous flowering plants known for their distinctive swept-back petals and heart-shaped leaves, blooming primarily from fall to spring.
Anthurium are tropical plants known for their glossy, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive, long-lasting flowers, making them popular houseplants and cut flowers. You might find some of these in a cut flower arrangement, too.
Kalanchoes are popular, low-maintenance succulent houseplants known for their bright, long-lasting flowers and ease of care. They are a great choice for beginners and prefer bright, indirect sunlight with well-draining soil.
A bromeliad is a low-maintenance, tropical plant known for its unique rosette of leaves that often form a water-storing cup with vibrant, long-lasting flowers or colorful leaves called bracts. They make popular and striking houseplants.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cincinnati.com ’
