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Flower Care
New breeding and growing techniques mean most flowers last much longer than they used to. And by following these few simple steps you can get extra life and pleasure from your flowers.
TOP TIPS FOR CUT FLOWER CARE
- With a sharp knife cut 3cm (1") off all stem ends at a slant.
- Strip off all leaves below the water line.
- Keep vases very clean; and use fresh, lukewarm water.
- Always use a proprietary cut flower food.
- Keep flowers away from direct sunlight and heat; and ripening fruit.
- Remove faded flowers as they occur.
- Remember to top up the water, adding more flower food.
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
Do...
- use lukewarm water - it has less oxygen, which prevents air bubbles in the stem blocking water uptake.
- clean your vases thoroughly after use - bacteria kills flowers.
- strip off all leaves that will be below the waterline, to help keep the water clean and direct energy to the flowers
- use flower food as instructed. It contains flower-friendly sugars to feed the flowers and encourage buds to open; preservatives to lengthen their life; an acid-balancer; and anti-bacterial agents, in an easy-to-use sachet.
Don't...
- try old wives' tale remedies in your vases - they don't work! Coins do nothing. Lemonade or sugar will help flowers open but will also encourage bacteria to breed, shortening their life. Aspirin makes the water more acidic, but does nothing else. Bleach may kill the flowers and certainly won't encourage buds to open. And piercing tulip stems will only encourage bacteria to enter the wound.
- break, crush, hammer or split the stems - bacteria grows on damaged stalks, and they can't take up water.
- put daffodils in mixed arrangements - they release latex slime that affects other flowers
- put flowers near ripening fruit, or leave dying flowers in with the rest - they release tiny amounts of ethylene gas which ages flowers.
- place flowers in a draught or bright sunlight, and keep them away from central heating.
Imogen Stone uses the very highest quality fresh flowers from growers around the world to create beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets. The bouquets are packaged in specially designed boxes that will protect the hand-tied flowers during their journey - on arrival they are guaranteed to impress the recipient. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com
Content kindly provided by FP&A.
Orchid Care
Follow the links below for care and culture information on the following orchid species:
Cattleya Colourful, flamboyant and much sought after, Cattleya (CAT-lee-uh) have some of the largest single orchid blooms of all, some measuring over 15cm across. A single bloom is so spectacular they make an extra special wedding corsage. However, the destruction of their native habitat has made species Cattleya quite rare and all the plants sold as pot plants are hybrids, of which there are many and varied. more...
Cymbidium Also known as the boat orchid, Cymbidium (sim-BID-ee-um) hybrids descend from species originating mainly in the Himalayas, the mountainous regions of India and China. They can also be found throughout the Far East: through Japan, Philippines and Australia.
Cymbidium orchids are large evergreen plants; they have “strappey”, grass-like leaves shooting from pseudo-bulbs at the base of the plant. They are clump-forming and have fleshy roots. more...
Dendrobium
(den-DROH-bee-um) hybrids are descended from species originating mainly in eastern Asia and Australia. The majority of Dendrobiums available from Ivens Orchids are Phalaenopsis type hybrids that require similar growing conditions to Phalaenopsis.
The second type of Dendrobium grown at Ivens Orchids is Dendrobium kingianum; these require cooler growing conditions. more...
Miltonia (mil-TOE-nee-uh) are part of the Odontoglossum alliance and, whilst plants tend to be smaller than other Odontoglossums, their flowers are large, colourful and quite often scented.
Commonly known as the pansy orchid, they originate from Columbia but most of the plants purchased today are hybrids. They are compact, clump-forming plants with flat, oval-shaped pseudo-bulbs from which 1 to 3 leaves form and one or more flowering spikes are produced. Flowers are large and quite often scented. more...
Odontoglossum Alliance (oh-DON-to-gloss-um), and their close relatives, make up this highly attractive group of orchids. They include: Miltonia, Brassia, Oncidium, Wilsonara, Cambria, Odontoglossum, Vuylstekeara, Maclellanara and Zygopetalum.
These plants are so closely related that it has been possible to cross breed between the families and, in so doing, produce more robust hybrid plants with larger more varied flower shapes and colours. The hybrids tend to show more vigorous growth and withstand warmer conditions than their parent species. more...
Paphiopedilum and Cypripedium Probably the best known of all the orchids are Paphiopedilum (paf-e-o-PED-e-lum) and Cypripedium (sip-rip-EED-e-um); they make ideal houseplants. Commonly known as slipper orchids, they are easily recognisable by the shape of the flower, which has a pronounced lip shaped like a bucket or slipper. The Cypripedium, also known as the Lady’s slipper or Venus’s slipper, originates from Europe and North America whilst the Paphiopedilum comes from India Malaysia and New Guinea. more...
- Phalaenopsis Commonly know as the moth orchid, Phalaenopsis, (pronounced fal-en-OP-sis,) are the ultimate house plant. They are easy to grow in our centrally heated homes and flower for an incredibly long time: Expect at least six weeks but don’t be surprised if your plant is still flowering after six months!
Phalaenopsis have fleshy, oval leaves that form a crown at the base of the plant, and thick silvery aerial roots. A healthy plant can have four or more leaves that are used by the plant to process and store nutrients and energy. It is common for the plant to lose and replace leaves each year. more...
Vanda Alliance Vandas and Ascocendas are the sun loving relative of Phalaenopsis, enjoying similar conditions but requiring a lot more light.
The plants are made up of a thick, fleshy, upright stem with stiff strap-like leaves that grow from the tip of the plant, alternating on opposite sides of the stem. The thick, silvery aerial roots are produced at intervals along the stem usually opposite a leaf. Food and moisture are retained in the leaves and roots. Flowers develop on short stems between the leaves usually near the top of the plant. Individual flowers should last 4 to 6 weeks. more...
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Zygopetalum (zi-go-pet-a-lum) are part of the Odontoglossum alliance and require similar conditions. They are compact clump-forming evergreen plants with large egg-shaped pseudo-bulbs from which 1 to 5 leaves form and the flowering spikes are produced. Flowers are quite often scented and long lasting. more...
Imogen Stone supply only the finest orchids from Ivens Orchids of St Albans. Our orchids are a fine example of Imogen Stone quality. Our customers know that we only supply the highest quality products at great prices and that is why they come back time and time again. So why not join them and become an Imogen Stone customer too? You will never want to buy flowers from anywhere else!
For Orchids - think www.imogenstone.com
[Disclaimer: Imogen Stone Ltd has provided this information as a free-of-charge service and every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Sharp knives and secateurs are dangerous and they are used at the users own risk. Imogen Stone Ltd. does not accept responsibility for any damage to plants or persons caused by following the instructions contained herein.]