Tag: corporate flowers

Flowers: The Feel-Good Medicine Series. Part One: Color

Many theories have been put forth trying to explain the relationship (the cause and effect) between flowers and the blissful emotions they generate.  Today we begin a blog series that will take us on a journey through the therapeutic world of flowers in search of the answer to the question.  Why do flowers make us feel good?

Seeing flowers in every color is an uplifting experience!

COLOR:

The first theory of why flowers make us feel so good is rooted in the psychological effects of color.  Several ancient cultures (the Chinese, the Egyptians) believed they could heal ailments using color.  This is known as Chromo-therapy.  Still used in today’s holistic medicine, color has been shown to have  an impact on one’s mood…

Blue brings calmness and serenity.  There seems to be a mental association between night and the color blue.  Several municipalities have even seized on the theory and installed blue street lighting.  In 2000 Glasgow installed blue lighting to improve its landscape.  It was later reported that the crime rate was reduced in areas that had blue lighting!  In a similar effort to reduce agressive driving, Tokyo installed 152 blue lights on a stretch of highway in 2001.

Pink is associated with love and romance.  There is even a shade of pink called Drunk Tank Pink.  Click on this link to read all about this shade of pink!

Green is the color that symbolizes nature and the natural world.  Researchers have found that green can invoke feelings of good fortune, health and tranquility.

Red is a  bright, warm color that evokes strong emotions.  Red is often associated with love, warmth and comfort.  Red is also considered a strong, even angry color, that creates intense feelings, even excitement.  Consider the many ways that the color red is used in a phrase or colloquialism: red-neck, red-hot, red-handed, paint-the-town-red, seeing-red, the-red-eye.

Every color imaginable is represented by one flower or another. Although it is clear from study after study that color has an effect on people’s moods, these effects are not always positive.  What is certain is that any flower in any color will have a positive effect on those who receive and enjoy them.  It might be a bit of a leap to say that flowers of one particular color have a more positive  effect than flowers of another color.

The moral of the story?  Send someone flowers! If you know their favorite color, then that is great! If not, all the colors are beautiful and you can send those.  Flowers do make people happy and the bright vivid colors bring us joy and happiness.  They lift us up, the help our spirits rise and most of all they make us smile. Send someone flowers today and sit back and wait for the phone to ring.  The enthusiasm that comes through the telephone line will astound you!  What other research do you really need in order to prove  the point?  That loud over-the-top, super-giddy “thank youuuuuuuuuu!” is research enough!

No matter the reason, no matter the occasion, no matter the moment, all of us at Starbright Floral Design are standing by waiting to hear from you  and ready to help lift someone’s day.  We are the feel-good experts!  Helping people smile all over the world every day.  Starbright Floral Design (that is us) is  located in the heart of New York City (in the historic flower district) and because of our ties to hospitality in our great city we have been dubbed “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”.

You can visit our second floor loft at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201), you can call us at 800.520.8999 or you can learn all about who we are by going to our website at www.starflor.com.  No matter where or how you reach out to us… We would love to be of service.

Happy Days to All!

The Official Florist.

Starbright Floral Design

www.starflor.com

To place an order on-line, visit the e-commerce portal of our site at: www.starbrightnyc.com

You can also find Starbright on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

 

 

Tulips: The First Money Bubble!

Investors beware! Tulip bulbs crash!
A tulip, known as "the Viceroy", displayed in a 1637 Dutch catalog. Its bulb cost between 3000 and 4200 florins depending on size. A skilled craftsman at the time earned about 300 florins a year.

Do you know a stockbroker or financial professional that has suffered losses recently?  Cheer him up with some tulips! Here is the story and why things no matter how bad they seem can always be worse…

As we celebrate the end of tulip season for yet another magnificent year… I share with you a story about this amazing flower that is sure to surprise you.  The financial bubble that came about was caused by tulip bulbs.  It took place way before the bubble in the stock market, the housing market or any other bubble and subsequent bubble that you may know of.

It was tulip mania or tulpomanie to the Dutch.  This was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which contract prices for bulbs of the recently introduced tulip reached extraordinarily high levels and then suddenly collapsed. At the peak of tulip mania, in February 1637, some single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman. It is generally considered the first recorded speculative bubble (or economic bubble).

The term “tulip mania” is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any large economic bubble.

The event was popularized in 1841 by the book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, written by British journalist Charles Mackay. According to Mackay, at one point 12 acres (5 ha) of land were offered for a Semper augustus bulb. Mackay claims that many such investors were ruined by the fall in prices, and Dutch commerce suffered a severe shock. Mackay’s book is a classic that is widely reprinted today, his account is contested.

Research on the tulip mania is difficult because of the limited data from the 1630s—much of which comes from biased and anti-speculative sources. Although these explanations are not generally accepted, some modern economists have proposed rational explanations, rather than a speculative mania, for the rise and fall in prices. For example, other flowers, such as the hyacinth, also had high prices on the flower’s introduction, which then fell dramatically. The high prices may also have been driven by expectations of a parliamentary decree that contracts could be voided for a small cost—thus lowering the risk to buyers.

All we want is tulips in a vase to enjoy them all season long!  They still grow in Holland.  Today tulips are a harmless flower that brings much joy and  is considered by many the first sign of springtime.  They are commercially available as cut flowers from September to May.  In the off-months you can get them, but the quality is not great and they are pricier than at their peak season (March, April and May).

All of us at Starbright love tulips…

This post is brought to you by Starbright Floral Design (www.starflor.com).  Sometimes we like to bring out “the fun side of flowers” by injecting some humor into our scribes.  We truly hope you enjoy our reads and get to see flowers from a little bit of a different perspective.  We sure do.

When you have some time, please visit our website and tell us what you think of the work that we do.  If you would like to order a gift for someone, you can visit our e-commerce portal we always recommend Designer’s Choice as a great option to take the guess work out of ordering flowers for a friend, a loved one or a parent. We deliver flowers on a same day basis (open seven days a week) in the United States.  Worldwide delivery is available  (except war zones, jungles, desserts and merchant marine vessels in the open sea) within 48 hours.

We would love to hear from you!  An alternative to our website is to call us (800.520.8999) or you may visit us at 150 West 28th Street (Second Floor).  We are in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  Pop on in! We would love to meet you!

Starbright Floral Design – The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps.

“Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations… It is what we do!”

Starbright and the Community: Women Mean Business

Every now and again we have the opportunity to work with a partner to sponsor an organization whose contribution to the community is exceptional and where  the great work done is desperately needed.  Here is just such an opportunity.  This Tuesday the 12th of April we are proudly sponsoring the floral decor for the 17th Annual Women Mean Business Luncheon which is to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless.  The event will take place  this Tuesday  at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.  We asked the program chair to pass along some information about the event to our audience…

Women Mean Business

Please join us at the Coalition for the Homeless’ 17th annual Women Mean Business Luncheon on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.  All proceeds from the Women Mean Business Luncheon support the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program.

First Step is a 14-week career readiness program for homeless and low-income women that emphasizes computer, literacy, and communication skills required for today’s tough job market.  We place our students in internships with major corporations or nonprofit organizations, provide them with mentors and job coaches, and help our graduates find and retain full-time, living wage employment. Since the majority of our students have faced domestic violence or incarceration, we also provide comprehensive social services to help them with emotional and personal issues outside of the classroom.

As chronic joblessness and the lack of affordable housing push families with children out of their homes and into the public shelter system, First Step is more vital than ever.  Nearly 10,000 families in New York City – the majority headed by single mothers – have no place to call home tonight. But graduates of First Step have the tools, confidence and greater self-esteem to become financially independent and break the cycle of homelessness.

We are very pleased to announce that this year’s floral arrangements have been donated by Starbright Floral Design, a new and exciting partner of the Coalition for the Homeless. Their support has helped ensure the success of the Women Mean Business Luncheon and the First Step Job Training Program. Thank you Starbright Floral!

Tickets for this year’s luncheon can be purchased online at www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/wmbl.

Hope to see you there!

Designer’s Choice – Making a case for the ONLY choice in flowers!

Sending someone flowers?  Having a hard time selecting from all the choices on all the websites?  Too many pictures? Confused?  We sure are!

Uninformed consumers constantly are placing orders for flowers from pictures online and then complain that the flowers do not “look like the picture”.  They never will and it is an unrealistic expectation to think that they should.  Here is why:  Flowers are natural living blossoms that are not all made from a mold.  The pictures were taken in a studio under the perfect conditions and designed to entice you to place an order by screaming “me! me! buy me!”.  Some websites are so dishonest that they will “photoshop”  adding colors and emphasis to the flowers so as you will buy something that really is impossible to recreate.

Florists are artisans.  They are artists, they design, they have attitudes (like a chef in a kitchen cooking with a dose of imagination).  Floral designers learn to imagine, create and combine colors and textures to make something bespoke (unique, custom) just for you.  Florists are trained to make compositions that are one of a kind (not from a mold) and are made once  and never to be made the same again.  It goes against the grain of a true designer to ask him to copy a picture.

Can you ask a designer to copy the flavor and design style of a photograph? – Yes… all day long.  To copy and recreate with exactness?  hardly ever and with ZERO job satisfaction.  Do you really want flowers for your loved one made  by someone who hates what they do? Pictures to be copied (especially the ones in the silly little containers with smiley faces) take away the art, the creativity and the spontaneity that the designer has trained an entire lifetime for.

Starbright Floral Design, like every other florist these days, has a million photographs on our e-commerce portal for you to choose from and “yes” we will always do our best to recreate the photo (always adding some spunk, spontaneity and our own style) .  It was a business decision that we had to make and we have offered flowers in the photo-catalog format displaying options for the past ten years… BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU that we did not become the highest rated (by Citysearch and others) florist in Manhattan by being the best at copying photos!  Rather, in the crowded and highly stylized island that we live on where there is a new “in style” every afternoon, we committed ourselves to impeccable  customer service and amazing styles with fresh blooms.

Designer’s Choice goes viral online!!!!

We are now offering that very creativity to our online clients with a twist… We are  taking the leap to ask you to trust us.  Let the inspiration of the moment dictate the flowers that your bouquet will have.  Don’t stress over the decision of “do I like the Sunset Blooms or the Pretty Paradise?”.   What really matters is  that your special someone receives flowers that are fresh, last a long-long time are stylized but not contrived.  They should remind the person of you and your great taste.  It is like having your own personal chef in the kitchen cooking just for you .  You never know what he will come up with, but you know it will be good!

Designer’s Choice Modern and Designer’s Choice Traditional are two new categories on our website that are designed to intrigue, surprise and give  you our very best.  Even if Starbright Floral Design (that is us) is not your florist, if you know someone who has built a name and has a reputation for flair, then PLEASE do not cripple their creativity with a picture.  Just tell them:  “Whip me up something great! She loves pink and green flowers!”

Designer’s Choice is a matter of trust and trust has to be earned.  We invite you  to give us a call and take a leap of faith!

Starbright Floral Design was started in 1994 and is  the most reviewed florist on-line by all the major review sites.  We deliver amazing flowers all over the place and at times that you would not think it is possible to get flowers on a same-day basis.  Give us a call, visit our online event gallery or pop on by!  We would love to meet you!

Cheers,

 

The Official Florist

 

April Birth Flower: The Daisy-The most commonly picked flower by slaves?

Welcome to the fourth month in the calendar… Another birth flower has arrived.  With springtime everywhere, we are introducing the flower of the month of April (and for those of you who have been following us, this is no April Fool’s joke) – The flower of the month is the common daisy.  Read on!

 

The Everyday Daisy - April's Flower of the Month

 

 

Daisies belong to the Asteraceae plant family.   The Asteraceae family dates back fifty million years and includes over twenty thousand varieties. The family name derives from the Greek Aster, meaning a star shape.  The name daisy derives from the phrase Day’s Eye.  It’s a reference to the English daisies routine of closing their petals at night and opening again at daylight.  The Daisy’s meaning is said to be purity and innocence.  However, to Roman soldiers it often meant the difference between life and death.  The English daisy was widely used by the Romans for its astringent properties. Roman armies would have their slaves pick daisies incessantly in order to extract the juice.  Bandages were soaked in this juice and would help bind battle wounds.  Today the phrase just out picking daisies is not in reference to some forced labor but rather to depict a relaxing free time experience.  The term pushing daisies refers to the wild flowers that would sprout in the mound of dirt covering a fresh grave and signifies death.

English daisies have white, off-white, or sometimes slightly pink star-spread petals and a yellow center, with green stems and leaves.  Many varieties of daisies are clearly identifiable members of the daisy family with the typical English daisy appearance, such as the Shasta Daisy or Chrysanthemum.   Others like the popular Gerbera daisy (African daisy) have some of the identifiable traits such as central florets.  You can find its flowers in yellow, orange, pink, peach and red; they are prized for their large heads, long outer petals and intense colors. Dahlias, however, have the star-shaped petals without central florets.   Other varieties of daisies aren’t even flowers but edible plants such as artichokes.

Just a few thoughts  and  words about our sponsor… Blooming Thoughts is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are located in New York City in the heart of Manhattan in the heart of the Historic Flower District.  The wholesale florists on our block open at about 5am.  Give us a call and if you are up early, we will be happy  to give  you a walking tour of the flower district.  It is a great place to catch the scents and colors of the season.  I always tell people to walk our block at least four times a year so that they can enjoy and appreciate the seasons.

If you are not up that early, you can find us online at www.starflor.com or by stopping by and visiting us anytime before 8PM (seven days).  We are located at 150 West 28th Street in Studio 201.  Or you can give us a call at 800.520.8999.  We would love to hear from you!

The Official Florist

“On the Fun Side of Flowers” – April Fools

Hi there! I am Nic, Senior Partner at Starbright Floral Design.  Sometimes I scribe on this page as The Official Florist.  That name came as a short version of “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps” – a tag line that seems to have stuck pretty well over the years.

I have always been intrigued by the innocent fun that people have  with each other on April Fools Day.  I have followed the holiday with some interest over the years and I have been inspired by the fun that people and  companies have with each other on this one day when we invent the craziest things to say…

Why Google told us only a couple of days ago that they have developed an email program that works on hand signals.  Remember when Taco Bell convinced us that they bought the Liberty Bell (to help with the deficit) and they were renaming it? Or when Burger King told us all that they had created a Whopper specifically for the southpaw? The condiments were turned 180 degrees to accommodate left-handed people.  Sure.

We decided to have some fun this year and participate in the holiday (it is a holiday, right?).  A lot of planning went into what we were going to do.  Many nights of meetings, creative sessions and ideas were thrown around.  We were new at this “hoax thing” and we put a lot of man hours learning how to spoof.  Next year we think it will be easier.  We are Fool Experts now!

So “The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps” issued a press release late at night on the 31st of March (as a decoy) that basically stated that we funded research that was led by Dr. Aprilia Anoitou (Greek translation for April Fool) in which we were able to genetically engineer a rose so that it would behave like an oyster and produce pearls.   We were endorsed by a non-existent Dutch society that promotes flower buying.  To top it off Poisson D’Avril (French for April Fool) from a fictional tourism board in New York City endorsed this high-end rose as a gift for someone who clearly has everything.

I got congratulatory calls and emails from far away places.  Flower growers from Holland and importers from South America reached out to express their good wishes (the experts were dumfounded!).  A New York City radio personality wanted an interview (I declined) and several on-line publications carried the story.  Friends were even google-ing “The Pearl Rose” because they wanted to be in-the-know.  The spoof was supported by our social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn)

Most marketers would call this a marketing success.  I suppose it was.  We set out to have some fun and did we ever!  The planning, the execution, the fooling, having to answer emails and queries.  It was all about The Pearl Rose.  On most holidays we work ourselves to the point where  work is tyranny.  We never get to celebrate Mother’s Day, Valentine’s, Christmas or anything else.  So finally we have found a holiday on a day that we are not so busy and we can enjoy a day of fun with the rest of the world.  This too will be ruined when some floral industry consultant decides to create a holiday around people sending one another Foolish Flowers! For now we are relaxed and looking forward to April Fools 2012.

The Pearl Rose is history for now.  Maybe someday someone will be able to cross-breed oysters and roses and pearls will be come from roses. Until then life is normal and we can all go back to being true romantics by wooing our honeys with vases and vases of the most gorgeous long-stemmed roses…

It really was The Fun Side of Flowers!

Starbright Floral Design is located in “The Heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District”.  We deliver the most amazing blooms and the coolest floral compositions imaginable to anyone, anywhere  and at any time (except in the overnight hours and to uninhabited places, war zones and to merchant marine vessels while sailing the high seas).

Give  us a call at 800-520-8999 or better yet visit our website at www.starflor.com or our e-commerce portal (where you can buy really great flowers) at www.starbrightnyc.com.  Stop by and  meet us, give us a call or drop us a line.  Tell us you want a dozen pearl roses and we will all smile!

Flowers, Festivals and Celebrations – it is what we do!

 

 

 

Ficus Trees: Moody but Gorgeous

Ficus Trees...
Take special care of your ficus and you will have years of enjoyment!

Ficus trees are perhaps the most popular indoor decorative trees grown.  The ficus benjamina – weeping fig – in particular is one of the most popular of the 800 species available. Their popularity is certainly not as a result of its easy care but rather, its beauty.  Ficus trees are very temperamental requiring constant vigilance in its care.  Ficus trees can become stressed by simple actions such as moving from one room to another or even from one end of a room to another.  Proper ficus tree care is essential to keep these plants healthy.  The ficus’ popularity, coupled with their temperament, was a motivating factor in launching Starbright’s exclusive Plant Care Maintenance Program.

Ficus Tree Care:

The ficus tree is a true creature of habit.  It does not like change.  Consistency is the key factor in its care.

Sunlight: Bright sunlight during the day, but should not be in full sun all day.

Temperature: The optimum temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Consistency is key-ficus trees should not place next to heaters or vents that create varied temperatures.

Watering: The soil should be kept moist but not wet, in a well draining pot to prevent root rot. The rule of the green thumb is to water after the top inch or two of soil has dried. Avoid overwatering your ficus! The most common mistake people make is to add more water once the leaves begin to turn yellow. This is the opposite of what you should do.

Humidity: Misting the tree frequently while it is young or adjusting to a new location, can help it maintain its humidity.  Helpful time saving hint is to make a humidity tray by filling the plant saucer with gravel.  The runoff water will evaporate through the plant, providing additional humidity.

Fertilizer: During growth periods, feed the plant every three to four weeks. Use a regular liquid fertilizer for indoor plants diluted to half the strength recommended on the package label. Decrease fertilizing in autumn and do not fertilize during the winter.

Trouble shooting leaf loss: Proper ficus tree care can help minimize leaf loss. Ficus trees commonly lose up to a quarter of its leaves after an environmental change. Diligent care can help mitigate additional stress. If leaves turn yellow just prior to dropping off, it is a sign of over-watering. Dull leaves may indicate a need for fertilizer.

These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist.  The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201).  To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please visit our website at www.starflor.com.

You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide.  We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.

Thank you for visiting our blog.  Always “at your service”,

The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

t.800.520.8999

starflor.com

Bromeliad Plants: Matricide is Natural?

A Classic Bromeliad by Starbright
Aechmea fasciata
A Bromeliad Classic by Starbright
Guzmania Rana

Bromeliads are members of a plant family containing over 3000 species.  The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple.  People have been using bromeliads for thousands of years for food, shelter and ceremonies by civilizations such as Incas, Maya and Aztecs.  Europeans were introduced to the pineapple when Spanish conquistadors returned with the pineapple.  The image of the pineapple became so popular that it was adapted into European art, sculpture, furniture and architecture.

The most popular office and house plant varieties are Aechmea fasciata (Silver-Vase, Urn Plant) and Guzmania Rana.

In general they are ideal indoor plants requiring very little care.  The mother plant will generally only produce one bloom in its lifetime.  Once it blooms it will produce new plantlets called “pups”. These pups will feed on the “mother” plant until they are large enough to set roots of their own and survive as a separate plant. The mother has done her job and will die off.  The green, leafy top of a pineapple is in fact a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.

It can take a few years for the plant to reach mature blooming size. Once the plant reaches maturity you can force the plant to flower by placing the plant in a clear plastic bag and throw a ripe apple inside the bag for 7 to 10 days. The ripe apple will give off ethylene gas and will help force the plant to flower.

1)      Sunlight: bright indirect sun.  Ideally placed around windows with blinds.

2)      Water: Keep the soil evenly moist.  Watering once to twice a week is sufficient. DO NOT USE A METAL WATERING CAN.  THE METAL IS TOXIC TO BROMELIADS AND WILL KILL THEM.

3)      Temperature: Indoor temperatures are perfect for Bromeliads.

Replanting the Pups: Once a pup reaches one-third the size of the mother plant gently tug and separate the two plants.  If the pup doesn’t pull away easily cut it where it attaches to the mother plant. Before potting your new plant, let the cut area dry out by letting it sit for a day (not in the sun). Using a mixture of peat moss and prelate pot up the bromeliad cutting into a small pot (do not over pot) and follow the instructions above. If all the potting and work sounds too much to handle ask Star bright about our Plant Care Services or do nothing and enjoy the plant as is.

These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist.  The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201).  To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please  visit our website at www.starflor.com.  You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide.  We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.

Thank you for visiting our blog.  Always “at your service”,

The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

t.800.520.8999

starflor.com

 

The Peace Lilly – Simple Care / Ideal Plant

What’s in a Name

Being of Greek descent I like to relate everything back to the birthplace of civilization, Greece.  With most flowers/plants there is an interesting story rooted in Greek mythology or Greek history giving the plant its name.  The Peace Lily, I would expect, would be no different.  Perhaps its name derived from their use to adorn an Olympic event.  Or perhaps the plant was given as a gift of appreciation to the great Alexander as he heroically brought civilization to the lands of savages.    Sadly I was disappointed to find that its name is nothing more than a reflection of its appearance. The white spathe represents a raised white flag of surrender.  This plant’s name is not rooted in Greek history but that of the French.

Watering

The peace lily belongs to the Spathiphyllum family.  Its flowers may be white or yellow with long bright green leaves. This plant is at peace when it is watered regularly.  Typically two or three times a week is sufficient.  Check the soil and make sure its moist.  If its dry, or the leaves are wilting or browning its been too long between watering.  In addition to regular watering, this plant likes its leaves misted.  The misting helps prevent red spider mite infestation.  If you see tiny spider webs treat the leaves with alcohol and spray with an insecticidal soap.

CAUTION FOR NYC RESIDENTS and others with chlorinated water supplies.   This plant is very sensitive to chlorinated water.  Either water with distilled water (unlikely) or let the tap water sit overnight thereby dissipating the chlorine.

Sunlight

One reason why this plant is so well equipped for office life is that it is not a sunbather.  The plant prefers natural filtered light.  Exposing the plant to direct sunlight will brown the leaves and create problems.

Ancillary Care

The roots of a Peace Lily like to be tightly confined but will normally overfill their initial pot within 1 year.  However, they do not usually require a pot larger than 10 inches.  Although the plant is simple to care for, it still needs to be fertilized occasionally. However, be sure that the fertilizer is not too strong or the leaves will brown and the root hairs will be killed.  Err on the side of a milder mix to be safe.  Rule of a green thumb is a fertilizer mix of 20-20-20.

If your plant was beautiful and healthy when purchased and you’ve maintained it as discussed herein, but it doesn’t bloom or has deformed shaped leaves you need to show some patience.  It is possible it was purchased from a discount retailer who artificially induced the plant into bloom for sale.  Your plant is simply said a drug addict.  It is looking for a dose of the hormone gibberellic acid.  Don’t be an enabler.  Let it beat the habit with your love and care and eventually it will live out a normal cycle.  The lesson here is to purchase your plants from a respectable retailer such as Starbright.

We highly recommend the Peace Lily for a variety of uses:

It is a great plant to send someone as a gift (personal or corporate).

We use them to decorate venues for events (plant rental).

We offer weekly maintenance on plants for offices and we take care of many Peace Lilies throughout New York City.

These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist.  The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201).  To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please  visit our website at www.starflor.com.  You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide.  We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.

Thank you for visiting our blog.  Always “at your service”,

The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

t.800.520.8999

starflor.com

 

Carnations – The Comeback Flower of January

Birth Flower of January
The flower of choice for January Babies!

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