FLOWER CARE
Tips on how to enjoy your flowers longer
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Buy flowers when buds are beginning to show colour.
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Make sure they are fresh. Do not buy flowers with yellow or wilted leaves.
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Leave freshly bought flowers wrapped and let them drink up clean water for a few hours.
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Make sure the vase has been thoroughly scrubbed using a brush. You can use bleach in case the vase is really dirty.
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Add flower food to the clean vase water, the flowers will open better and last longer. Use the correct quantity, that's one sachet per 1 litre of water.
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Use a sharp knife to cut 1 to 3 centimetres off the stems at an angle. Never break or flatten the stems; this also applies to woody stems. Some flowers should not be cut, such as Euphorbia fulgens.
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Leaves pollute the vase water and reduce the life of your flowers, so remove all leaves below the waterline.
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Do not put flowers in the sun or in a draught, as they may wilt.
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Do not put the vase next to the fruit bowl - it will reduce the life of your flowers.
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Check the water level daily because some flowers are very thirsty.
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Bouvardias, lilacs, hydrangeas and other forced shrubs require special shrub food. Leave Daffodils and Hyacinths for a day to slime-out (get rid of the slime from their stems) before you mix them with other flowers.
Important notes
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Some flowers, such as Lilies and Anthuriums, contain pollen that can be harmful to cats if they eat it. However there are new varieties available without pollen - ask for availability.
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Some flowers, such as Lilies that contain pollen, can stain. Remove the pollen by dabbing with sellotape.
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Some flowers and foliage such as Aconitum, Euphorbia and Eucalyptus, contain elements that can cause allergic reactions.
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The flowers and foliage in our bouquets, arrangements and houseplants are not suitable for consumption
Flower arrangements are made in Oasis. We use Oasis Ideal that contains flower food. Make sure the oasis is always standing in a little water to keep it moist. Once the oasis has dried out it won't take water anymore. Although Oasis is green, it is made of non-toxic chemical foam, which means that after use you it, you can deposit it in grey bins.
PLANT CARE
Tips on how to enjoy your plants longer
In December 2023, a lovely young man came in to the shop and bought a big plant for his parents. He said they love plants and even have some dating from before he was born. They obviously know how to look after plants well. If only we could all boast the same!
Whilst plants are generally hardy and can survive many conditions, sometimes, they struggle. Customers often ask us what may be wrong with their plants, or how they can improve their plant care. Questions are often about leaves - yellowing, falling away, browning, spots - leaf health is a good indicator of overall plant health.
Whatever dilemma you are facing, consider the golden thread of:
Water
Getting this right can be tricky. The age old question is: are you giving your plant the right amount? Too much can cause leaves to discolour and even cause excess droplets to fall off the plants. Too little can also cause discolouration and cause the leaves to fall off.
As a rule of thumb, a little water once a week works for most plants. Specialist plants may require less, such as succulents. Some require watering from the top and some are best when allowed to soak water from below. There is a wealth of information on the internet which can help you find the right balance.
Soil
It's important to ensure your plant has good quality soil, which suits the type of plant it supports. Researching this online is the best way to ensure you have the soil you need.
Remember to add nutrients if you have had your plant and soil for some time.
Newer soils can lack what they need to support plants and are made largely from coconut husks, among other matter. Do check when you buy soil where it comes from, and what it is made of.
If you are blighted with small flies coming from your plants, they will be living in the soil. They lay eggs through to the base of your pots and emerge over time. These can be tricky to deal with - sticky traps for the flies and nematodes to deal with the eggs are the ideal way to eradicate these pests. Both can be sourced online.
Temperature
Too hot? Too cold? Just right? A little research and experimenting will help with this one.
Beware of changes in seasons, especially as you put the heating on and off as the weather changes. Sudden changes to temperature can affect plants adversely. Remember - they can't take jerseys, cardigans and hats on and off like we can!
Light
Let there be light. And there was light! And it was good.
We learn how important light is to plant growth from a very early age in school.
Most thrive on light; many don't need full sunlight however and can survive in darker corners. Researching this will help you plan where to put your plant.
Plants usually come with instructions on how to look after them. If you follow these, you won't go far wrong. However, do pop in to chat to us about specific questions you have, email us on hello@dutchqualityflowers.com or call us on 01803 840436.