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Vol I
Are poinsettias poisonous?
For years we've heard that poinsettias are poisonous, but are they really? Here are the facts....
How long do you want your roses to last?
If you buy or recieve roses that come from a good florist, they will last a long time. If you want them to last even longer, follow the care and handling tips below.
If you receive fresh cut flowers in a vase or arrangement from a florist:
- Make sure the flowers have enough preservative! Check daily and add preservative (which should be supplied by the florist)
to keep the vase full.
- Make sure floral foam is kept submerged by adding preservative solution.
- To make preservative solution, mix the contents of a flower preservative packet with tap water of distilled water, according to the direction on the package.
Avoid using water from a home or commerical water softener.
If you receive fresh cut flowers in a box or wrapped, out of water:
- Prepare a clean vase full of flower preservative solution, mixed accurately according to the directions on the package. Mix with tap or distilled water, but avoid using
water from a home or commerical water softener. If you are using floral foam in your vase, before placing the foam in the vase, saturate it in the preservative solution by allowing
it to sing of its own weight in a container of the solution. When placing the foam in the vase, be sure it is fully submerged in the preservative solution.
- Remove any foliage that will be under water after the flowers are arranged.
- While holding the stems under water in a sink or under running water, cut about an inch off each stem with a sharp knife or shear. Immediately place the flower
in the vase of preservative solution.
- After arranging, if possible, place the arrangement in a cool, dark room or a refrigerator for 2-3 hours (but do not allow them to freeze.
- When selecting a place to display your fresh cut flowers, choose a cool spot that is out of the sun and out of any drafts, and away from heat sources.
- As with flowers received in a vase, check the container daily and add preservative solution as needed to keep the vase full and any floral foam submerged.
If a rose should wilt prematurely:
- Premature wilting (within a day or two of receiving) may indicatre that there is air trapped in the stem that is preventing preservative solution from moving up to the flower.
Also, there may be a cut or scrape in the bark above the water level.
- To revive the rose, re-cut the stem an inch or so from the bottom or above the damaged area of the stem, and then submerge the entire rose in a basin or shallow pan of warm (not hot) water.
Be sure the stem is straightened out, and that the end of the stem stays submerged. It will usually revive within an hour or so, and can be replaced in the arrangement.
This information regarding "How long do you want your roses to last?" is provided courtesy of the International Cut Flower Growers Association, Hasslet, MI, USA.
The Language of Roses
According to the Internationsl Cut Flower Growers Association, each rose color has a special meaning. What's more, when several colors in various stages of bloom are combined in one arrangement, your floral bouquet can speak a whole sentence instead of just one thought! Here are some of the most widely accepted meanings for different rose colors, blooms and arrangements:
- Regardless of color or stage of development, roses sent every month convey the message: "beauty ever new."
- Red roses say “I love you” and also stand for respect and courage.
- White roses have several meanings: “You're heavenly,” reverence and humility, innocence and purity, “I'm worthy of you,” and secrecy and silence.
- Red and white roses together, or white roses with red edges, signify unity.
- Pink roses in general symbolize grace and gentility. For more subtle shades of meaning, choose deep pink to stand for gratitude and appreciation.
Light pink conveys admiration and sympathy.
- Yellow roses usually stand for joy and gladness, but can also say “try to care.”
- Coral or orange roses denote enthusiasm and desire.
- A deep burgundy rose means “unconscious beauty.”
- Red and yellow blends stand for jovial and happy feelings.
- Pale colors convey sociability and friendship.
- Rosebuds symbolize beauty, youth and a heart innocent of love or: “You are young and beautiful.”
- Red rosebuds mean “pure and lovely” and white rosebuds signify girlhood or “too young to love.”
- The moss rosebud stands for confessions of love. A single rose stands for simplicity.
- In full bloom, it means “I love you” or “I love you still,” and a bouquet of roses in full bloom signifies gratitude.
- Withered white roses have two meanings: fleeting beauty and “you made no impression.”
- Hybrid tea roses mean “I'll remember you always” and sweetheart roses symbolize just what their name implies.
- Two roses taped or wired together to form a single stem signal an engagement or coming marriage.
- A full blown rose placed over two buds forms a combination that signifies secrecy.
- A crown made of roses signifies reward or virtue.
- In general, leaves are a symbol of hope.
- Even if the rose recipient is not familiar with these subtle shades of meaning, one message always stands out loud and clear:
The person who sends roses is a romantic saying something very special.
This information regarding "Language of Roses" is provided courtesy of the International Cut Flower Growers Association, Hasslet, MI, USA.