Welcome to our new feature that will appear once every month… We will introduce you to the Birth-Flower-Of-The-Month. Much like there is a Birthstone for every month, there is a Birth-Flower too! January is the month of the Carnation. Over the years this is a flower that has truly taken a bad rap. “Too FTD”, “Too common”, “Grandma’s flower”, “No carnations please!”. As florists we hear this all the time… BUT with new breeds of carnations coming out, new hot colors (purple, green, fuscia, and more) and with the evolution of design styles, carnations have made a big comeback, not to mention that they are the “Official Flower of January Babies”!
We did a little research on the history of the carnation, its origins and how to care for them… Read on! We hope you like the thoughts we have to share.
The birth flower for the month of January is the Carnation. Its scientific name, Dianthus Caryophyllus, is derived from the Greek-“dios” and “anthos”. The literal translation being “The Flowers of God”. Carnations have been around for about two thousand years longer than the person receiving them. Carnations are known for their sweet clove like fragrance, their ruffled appearance, hardiness and wide array of colors.
Carnations will grow up to 3 feet high with green-gray foliage. They bloom mainly during the cool times of year, particularly early winter. The cut flowers have been known to last up to a month with proper care.
Carnations are utilized for festive occasions as well as somber ones. You’ll find them at birthday parties, weddings, parades, festivals and funerals. Accordingly, carnations are the top producing crop in the floriculture worldwide.
Thinking about sending someone carnations? Don’t forget the significance of the color beyond its aesthetic value. Carnations take on many meanings depending upon their color. Pink Carnations signify a mother’s love. Deep red carnations indicates love. A white carnation indicates friendship. However, be careful of the yellow carnation. It signifies disappointment or disdain.
Six easy steps to keep your carnations looking fresh and bright:
1) Clean out a vase with soap and water. Bacteria left in the vase from a previous floral arrangement may cause the carnation to wilt prematurely.
2) Pour 1/2 cap of bleach into the vase. This should kill any bacteria missed while cleaning.
3) Pour 1/2 can of lemon-lime soda into the vase. Fill the empty can with warm water and pour the water into the vase and soda. The combination of lemon-lime soda, bleach and water will act as a preservative.
4) Remove any leaves from the stem of the carnation that are below the water in the vase. Cut the leaves with scissors or pull them off. Hold the stem of the carnation under the water in the vase. Cut 1 inch off the bottom of the stem with the scissors. If the vase is too narrow to cut the stem in, use a separate bowl of warm water to cut the stem.
5) Place the carnations in the prepared vase. Set the vase in a cool room away from bright sunlight for 24 hours. This encourages the carnations to take in as much water and preservative as possible, which helps the blooms last longer.
6) Replace the water and preservative every three to four days or if it becomes cloudy or dirty. Remove any dead leaves that fall into the water and remove and dispose of any flowers that begin to wilt.
Hey you receivers of yellow carnations just jump on Facebook and let us in on the reasons you generated such passion in a negative way.
Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and most of the time we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide. Sometimes we deliver yellow carnations.
Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in! We would love to meet you….
Passionately yours,
The Official Florist
Starbright Floral Design
Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District
150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.
T. 800.520. 8999
Web: www. starflor.com
E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com
Blooming Thoughts 