The most popular day to give flowers is without a doubt on Valentine’s Day. It is one of the busiest days for florists, candy shops, lingerie shops and restaurants. It is “expected” to give and receive flowers, chocolate, to go for a romantic date and more.
During Victorian times, flowers were given special meanings and small bouquets would be given to sweethearts to demonstrate love. The rose has been forever a symbol of love, beauty and peace and evidence of cultivation of roses dates back more than 5,000 years ago. More than 250 million roses will be harvested and bring in more than $2 billion in sales over the Valentine period.
If you received cut flowers from your valentine, then here are a few tips to prolong their life and beauty. Begin with a clean vase. If your container was previously used, then wash it with hot, soapy water to remove any debris and destroy bacteria and fungi that might shorten the life of your cut flowers. Cut off the bottom half inch to aid in water uptake. Ensure all foliage is removed beneath the water line. When your flowers begin to wilt, just give them a quick re-cut to ensure the stems are able to take water up to the blooms. Rewash and refill the vase with clean water as well as more of the floral preservative if you have some.
There are many other popular choices of flowers to give on Valentine’s Day. Miniature roses are a popular choice as a planted gift for this special day. They need bright light so place them in a south or west facing window. Miniature roses need a consistent moisture supply so ensure you water them when the surface of the media is dry to the touch. Fertilize weekly with a high phosphorus fertilizer to keep them blooming. Watch them closely as they tend to get spider mites easily.
One other popular plant at this time of year is the azalea. They are beautiful plants and tend to bloom for long periods of time. They prefer bright light but a cool location with temperatures around 15 C being just about perfect. Water azaleas thoroughly whenever the surface of the media feels dry. When they have finished blooming they are usually discarded.
There are also many other options in the retail outlets as well. Everyone appreciates any sign of spring in heart of winter. Just the other day on my YouTube channel GROW, the Sprout and I potted up a plethora of bulbs that had been resting in my fridge since last fall. For more information check it out at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
One needs to go no further than your nearest grocer to find many options to cheer your home. There arelittle pots of miniature daffodils that give even the darkest winter thoughts hope. There are also primroses available in a myriad of colours. A bonus with primroses is once we truly get spring these can be planted out in the garden in a partial shade area. Ensure the soil is rich in organic matter.
Hanbidge is the lead horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.
