Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

When the long, gray winter starts to wane and you just can’t wait to see some signs of spring, force some spring-flowering branches into bloom to brighten the indoors.

Spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as crabapples, forsythia, lilac, magnolia, pussy willows, redbud, quince, wisteria and fruit trees can be encouraged to bloom indoors.

Here’s how.
On a mild winter day, as the buds start to swell (Feb/March) cut on the diagonal 1-2 ft stems. To distinguish which the branches will flower, look for buds that are plump and rounded, pointed narrow buds will produce leaves. Bring the stems indoors to low light and cool temperatures (60-65F). Strip buds from the lower part of the stems, and make a slit or crush the bottom of the stems and place in a tall vase of tepid water. Use cold water if you are taking frozen cuttings (below 32F) to slowly defrost the stems. Mist the branches 2-3x a day or cover with a plastic bag to keep the buds from drying out. Open the bag periodically for air circulation. Be sure to change the water every other day to prevent bacteria or fungal growth. Buds should open in 1 to 6 weeks depending on the plant type and when it is collected. To speed up the blooming process keep stems in slightly warmer temperatures. As soon as the buds start to open, move the branches to a bright cool room away from direct sun and heat; this will extend the blooming time. You can stagger the cuttings for prolonged late winter /spring bloom. Closer to spring cuttings produce better blooms.

Your flowering stems will be a reminder that spring is just around the corner.

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Long-lasting Cut flower tips:

Nowadays cut flowers can be bought just about anywhere. Their quality and longevity depends on the care they receive from the moment they leave to grower to the time they are displayed at their final destination.

Here are some tips to help you get the maximum life span of any cut flowers.

1. Add a floral preservative such Crysal, Floralife to a clean vase and fill half way with tepid water. If you don’t have any make your own 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp bleach, 2 tsps. lemon juice to 1 qt. of lukewarm water.

2. With a sharp knife or clippers recut 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stem and place immediately in tepid water. The preferred way is to cut the stems under water.

3. Remove any foliage that will be underwater. Deteriorating leaves can generate more bacteria shortening your flower life.

4. Check the water level and be sure all stems are in water. Add more water when needed. Change the water and recut the stems every 3-5 days. If it gets cloudy change more often.

5. Display your flowers away from direct sun, heating vents or cold drafts.

6. Store your flowers in a cool room and cover them with a plastic bag to increase humidity. You can also store them in a refrigerator at temperatures of 40-50 degrees but be sure that you don’t have any fruit or vegetables that can emit ethylene gas causing them to wilt or die rapidly.

When you purchase your flowers don’t store them in too hot or too cold temperatures.
Some flowers may have a discoloration at the bottom of the stem, this indicates that the flower underwent a pre-treatment by the grower to further extend vaselife. It is not a disease.

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Daffodils should not be mixed with other flowers in a vase.

Cut daffodils release a stem-clogging sap (slime exudate) that causes other flowers to wilt especially tulips. Cut them early in the morning when they are barely opened and place them in a bucket of luke warm water for several hours. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar to quart of water to preserve freshness. Wait at least 12 hours after cutting before combining them with other flowers this allows time for the sap to leach out. Do not recut them when arranging with other flowers. They should last 4-6 days depending on temperature exposure.

Recent studies have shown that floral preservative should not be added to cut tulips. It shortens their longevity by clogging the stem causing them to wilt.

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“Rose Lingo”

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner you may be thinking about giving or sending flowers to that special person in your life.

Roses seem to be the most popular flower. According to the International Flower Growers Association 174 million Americans will buy roses for Valentine’s Day. We all know that roses are the choice flower for the day. The question is what color? With 70% of total rose sales, red has always been the favorite color signifying love, desire, and passion. But the Society of American Florist found that 62% of women when given a choice preferred pastel-colored roses such as white, shades of pink, peach and yellow.

For ages flowers have been used to express unspoken words of emotion. Flowers symbolized certain meanings: although sometimes there were several interpretations for the same flower. This is also true with the color of roses. Some customers may actually ask for the meaning of each color so as not to send the wrong message even though the receiver may not be aware of its meaning.

The following is an interpretive list of colored roses.

White rose - signifies purity, charm and innocence
White & red - unity
Pink - please believe me, perfect happiness
Yellow - jealousy, infidelity
Red - Love desire, passion

Irregardless of the confusing lists and surveyed preferences red roses have and will in their own language be used to say “I love you” and a box of chocolates will make it oh so much sweeter!

By the way, did you know that before roses, red tulips were the popular rage for Valentine giving. They symbolized perfect love.

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Sending Flowers to Friends, Family and Anyone Else…

When sending a flower to people you love, there are a few things to think about. Either you are going to send the flowers yourself, or have a service do it. Here is my take on the two categories:

Sending Flowers Yourself

• Make sure the flowers are really fresh. Some flowers ship better than others, for example tropical flowers such as anthirium, ginger, bird of paradise make the journey across the ocean very well whereas more delicate flowers would not. Another thing to consider is how they are packed in shipping. Protective packaging with a cooling agent is important to avoid bruised, damaged & dead flowers..none of which is what you want.

Having the Pros do it

• If you decide sending flowers on your own is too much of a hassle, choose a good floral delivery service. There are many available on the internet or even your local flower shop. You will get more personal service from a floral shop. Pick a price range that is middle of the road..The less you pay, the less flowers you will get, conversely the more you pay the larger the arrangement. A reputable business will always stand by its value and quality. If you are dissatisfied with the flowers you sent or received, contact the floral delivery service and ask for an adjustment.

Has anyone had any experience with reputable flower delivery services? Feel free to comment below.

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How to care for cut roses

At this time of year many will be giving or receiving cut roses for numerous occasions. If you’re lucky enough to receive or give roses here are some care and handling tips.

For maximum vase life it is important that the flowers are conditioned properly.
Roses do not like to be out of water for too long of a period of time. As soon as you receive them, remove the lower leaves and put the roses in a bucket of warm water with floral preservative and recut each stem 1/2-1 inch. Fill a vase with tepid water and freshly mixed preservative and transfer the flowers into the vase.

Re-cutting under warm water (100-110 degrees) facilitates faster water uptake and removes any blockage caused by air, bacteria and debris. A rose stem is like a drinking straw, water will flow with in 2 seconds. If you don’t put the stem in water immediately after cutting, air will block the water from going up the stem. This is especially beneficial for flowers with tight buds.

Here are some typical problems that may arise.

Stems are limp and flowers drooped in a day
Bent neck syndrome is usually due to water-related problems. Flowers may have been dry too long. And the stem may be blocked. Recut as directed.

Roses did not open
Hydration problem (water uptake) Flowers may have been harvested to early with the buds too tight or they may be too old.

Flowers opened too fast and didn’t last long
Blowing of roses is temperature related – use of too warm water. However there are new varieties that open quickly but they last a long time after opening.

Petals started drooping in a day
Premature petal drop may be due to age, temperature, water problems or ethylene exposure.

Keep your arrangement of roses in away from direct sunlight, heating and air-conditioning vents. Change the water every two or three days.

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