The Language of Love

Showering your love with flowers in New York City is a tradition that stretches back through time. Flowers can express loyalty, devotion, love, adoration and so much more, which makes Valentine’s Day one of the holidays that everyone at Starbright looks forward to with great joy. A day filled with flowers is Starbright’s kind of celebration, and we relish our small part in bringing lovers together in NYC as they enjoy this wonderful day.

So how to best tell your love with flowers, “I adore thee,”? Everyone at Starbright always makes sure to suggest the following, before venturing toward other flowers: if your amour has a favorite flower, go with that! There is nothing more romantic than showing your love that you listen to him or her throughout the year and know precious details about them. So whether it’s pansies or tulips, sunflowers or succulents, everyone at Starbright is ready to make your love’s dream in flowers come true.

Romance is in the tiny details of life.
Romance is in the tiny details of life.

But fear not, brave Valentine! If you haven’t yet learned the flower that sets your love’s heart aflutter in Manhattan, the brilliant Starbright artisan florists can make some flowery magic for you. After over two decades in New York City, we have developed a few suggestions on what flowers perfectly convey the language of love on Valentine’s Day.

“A rose by another other name would smell as sweet,” Juliet murmured in regard to her star-crossed love, Romeo — and she’s right! The name of the rose does not create the splendor of the scent, but it does evoke for everyone in New York City a classic beauty that always delights. There’s no better time of year for Starbright’s Love and Devotion bouquet of two dozen red roses. Richly colored and at the height of ripeness, these two dozen roses are a decadent Valentine’s Day treat for your sweetheart.

Starbright’s Love and Devotion bouquet make a stunning statement.
Starbright’s Love and Devotion bouquet make a stunning statement.

If roses are red and violets are blue, we’d bet that orchids will delight you, too! Starbright’s NYC Orchid Passion marries the vibrancy of fresh orchids with the soft allure of beautiful hydrangea, coupled with darts of pure tulip glory. This gorgeous composition created by Starbright’s floral artists in Manhattan is an excellent choice for a discerning special somebody who is looking for some variety in their blooms. Available for local delivery in New York City, Starbright’s NYC Orchid Passion may end up becoming yours!

Orchids made a bold statement of adoration.
Orchids made a bold statement of adoration.

Luscious white flowers are another exquisite choice for your Valentine. The snowy pearlescence of Starbright’s miniature, languid calla lilies look lovely in their crystal vase. Nestled on a throne of glassy pebbles, Starbright’s Blanco Calla Tango combines these features into an enchanted floral composition that is sure to thrill your Valentine.

Starbright's Blaco Calla Tango will send your love over the moon!
Starbright’s Blaco Calla Tango will send your love over the moon!

As fun as flowers are, everyone at Starbright knows that the true meaning of Valentine’s Day is letting your Valentine know just how much you adore them. So whether through flowers or poems written on napkins in coffee shops in NYC, we hope you and your Valentine have a fabulous time…being together. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Starbright!

Starbright Floral Design is a full-service florist located in Midtown NYC that has been brightening New York City for over two decades with flowers, plants and more.

It is our distinct pleasure to be of service to you in creating stunning floral compositions that will make you smile.

We are delighted to be able to carefully deliver each creation through our fleet of dedicated floral concierges in Manhattan, all of New York City and beyond.

In NYC, where anything is possible, we offer same-day delivery for our friends and clients to ensure that when want to send your wishes with flowers, orchids, plants and so much more, we are there to answer the call.

We invite you to visit us online or in our store, which you will find is bursting with flowers and delight in being of service to you. We would be thrilled to make your floral dreams come true!

Warm regards from all of us at Starbright, “The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps”.

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

Starbright Floral Design

140 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

Allergy-Proof Flowers!

At Starbright, we are thrilled to help our friends and clients in New York City celebrate their milestones, accomplishments and celebrations with flowers, every day! Yet while most people want to burrow their noses in blossoms in NYC, there are some who shy away, terrified at the idea of inhaling pollen and sneezing the day away.

For those among us in Manhattan who battle allergies from flowers, there are wonderful floral options to indulge your sense in, while keeping your senses clear. Starbright has carefully cultivated a list of beautiful blooms that lack pollen for our clients in NYC. We realize that the gorgeous bouquet below might look intimidating for someone who suffers from sneezing around flowers, but no need to hold your breath because this composition has been created out of all allergen-free flowers.

The bright white of this composition can only be matched with NYC’s bright lights.
The bright white of this composition can only be matched with NYC’s bright lights.

Starbright’s own Isle of White is a fantastic example of what is possible when you want your flowers to appeal to everyone in New York City. Crafted to bring beauty and elegance to every setting in NYC, our soothing and serene Isle of White features créme roses, white asiatic lilies and stock stem which are carefully arranged to their best advantage in a delightful bubble vase. Each flower, in addition to being breathtaking, is also one that will only bring happiness without any sneezing.

Since roses are known to not cause allergies for anyone in Manhattan or beyond, we couldn’t resist sharing with you one of the most decadent compositions of roses that we’ve created at Starbright. Starbright’s bouquet that was christened All My Love in NYC is overflowing with decadence. With more than 40 hot pink, lavender, light pink and medium pink roses artfully positioned in a cylindrical, clear glass vase, this is a composition that will knock everyone’s socks off — but not from sneezing!

Starbright’s fresh roses are paired with verdant Ti leaves for an incredible display.
Starbright’s fresh roses are paired with verdant Ti leaves for an incredible display.

Another fantastic floral from Starbright that would never leave you searching for a handkerchief in Manhattan are the mischievous snapdragons. Unexpected and with fantastic dimensions, snapdragons can sometimes be skipped over in the floral world in New York City, but never at Starbright. Intricate and alluring, snapdragons will liven up any flowers that they are nestled up to, and it comes as no surprise that in Starbright’s Hearts Aflutter Bouquet, the snapdragons achieve that effect. Mixed with lilies and roses, the air will be filled with a sumptuous scent, but no sneezes.

If ever a flower were to be called vivacious, it would be the snapdragon.
If ever a flower were to be called vivacious, it would be the snapdragon.

 

Tulips, with their ubiquitous springtime presence, may cause many to worry that they might bring sneezes with their blossoms, but these flowers are yet another upstanding example of flowers that won’t cause tears from olfactory distress in Manhattan. Their lavish petals and leggy stems give them a refinement that few other flowers can match in NYC. At Starbright, we love to have the tulips take centerstage in our Tulip Orange Grove in New York City. The tangerine tulips are resplendent against their flourishing, green stems, so we highlighted the beautiful juxtaposition with a clear vase to let the exquisiteness shine through in Manhattan.

The gentle elegance of tulips is displayed in their full glory with a clear glass vase.
The gentle elegance of tulips is displayed in their full glory with a clear glass vase.

 

These flowers are but a few of the many blooms that Starbright knows will keep your home or business looking its best, but without causing those with allergies any distress. We would be delighted to consult with you on which other blossoms could enliven your space!

Starbright Floral Design is a full-service florist located in Midtown NYC that has been brightening New York City for over two decades with flowers, plants and more.

It is our distinct pleasure to be of service to you in creating stunning floral compositions that will make you smile.

We are delighted to be able to carefully deliver each creation through our fleet of dedicated floral concierges in Manhattan, all of New York City and beyond.

In NYC, where anything is possible, we offer same-day delivery for our friends and clients to ensure that when want to send your wishes with flowers, orchids, plants and so much more, we are there to answer the call.

We invite you to visit us online or in our store, which you will find is bursting with flowers and delight in being of service to you. We would be thrilled to make your floral dreams come true!

Warm regards from all of us at Starbright, “The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps”.

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

Starbright Floral Design

140 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

The Allure of Amaryllis

What is sometimes forgotten because of Amaryllis’ beauty, is the lore behind one of Starbright’s treasured flowers. Greek legend tells us that Amaryllis was once a beautiful, though bashful, nymph. And though she didn’t live in New York City, she was familiar to all of us as she fell deeply in love. Amaryllis loved Alteo, a shepherd who had Hercules’ strength and Apollo’s fetching facade (rumor has it that he was quite foxy).

Gorgeous Amaryllis has a wonderful Greek legend to go along with its beauty.
Gorgeous Amaryllis has a wonderful Greek legend to go along with its beauty.

Amaryllis longed to give Alteo the one thing he desired most: a flower that had never existed in the world before. But not knowing how to do this, Amaryllis sought guidance from the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle told Amaryllis to go to Alteo’s door each night and to pierce her heart with a golden arrow upon every visit. Alteo finally opened the door after 30 nights to behold Amaryllis and the flowers that the blood of her heart created; a singular kind of flower never seen before.

Crimson Amaryllis was said to have sprung from the love of a nymph.
Crimson Amaryllis was said to have sprung from the love of a nymph.

Today, there are easier ways to entice your own true love in New York City! As unique as golden arrows piercing hearts sounds, there’s no need to follow Amaryllis’s dramatic endeavors in Manhattan. Instead, consider sending some Amaryllis to that special person you love in NYC and woo them by sharing this tale.

It’s true that everyone at Starbright adores everything that we have in our overflowing NYC flower and plant emporium. And while each florist has their own favorite flower, there’s nothing that we all love more than a good story to go with a beautiful bloom.

Amaryllis is a fantastic choice to send to someone you love.
Amaryllis is a fantastic choice to send to someone you love.

Amaryllis is one such flower that is beloved in New York City and beyond, and it’s easy to see why. With stunning petals that come in a variety of vivid hues, including purples, pinks, whites and crimson reds, Amaryllis stands out in every floral composition anywhere in Manhattan.

Amaryllis comes from the Greek work “amarysso” which translates into “to sparkle” and everyone at Starbright is delighted to do our part to spread these flowers far and wide in New York City to dazzle the City. Amaryllis flowers have become known beyond New York City to symbolize pride, determination and lustrous beauty; combined with its rich coloring, it’s no surprise that it has become a seasonal favorite.

Amaryllis is a great choice for the holidays and beyond.
Amaryllis is a great choice for the holidays and beyond.

Starbright Floral Design is a full-service florist located in Midtown NYC that has been brightening New York City for over two decades with flowers, plants and more.

It is our distinct pleasure to be of service to you in creating stunning floral compositions that will make you smile.

We are delighted to be able to carefully deliver each creation through our fleet of dedicated floral concierges in Manhattan, all of New York City and beyond.

In NYC, where anything is possible, we offer same-day delivery for our friends and clients to ensure that when want to send your wishes with flowers, orchids, plants and so much more, we are there to answer the call.

We invite you to visit us online or in our store, which you will find is bursting with flowers and delight in being of service to you. We would be thrilled to make your floral dreams come true!

Warm regards from all of us at Starbright, “The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps”.

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

Starbright Floral Design

140 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

Starbright Spreading Joy to the World!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside gorgeous flowers by Starbright make it so delightful! With the holidays quickly approaching in Manhattan, we wanted to show the floral glory that adorns so many homes and businesses throughout New York City and share with you the discounts that we are elated to offer, to make your spaces merry and bright.

Starbright’s Snowfall at Twilight is the ideal accompaniment for the holidays in NYC. This magnificent composition, dreamed up by Starbright Floral Design’s brilliant designers, features a couture, snow white, ceramic vase for a base that is overflowing with white amaryllis and dusty pink roses. Festive, pearlized ornaments in a silvery-white hue combined with rich amber colored pinecones accents this creation and make it a stunning statement piece in your NYC home and business. Usually $84.95 in Manhattan, we are excited to extend the friends & family pricing to you for a $15 discount on this beautiful floral composition bringing Snowfall at Twilight to only $69.95.

Snowfall at Twilight is a lovely composition to highlight your holiday decor.
Snowfall at Twilight is a lovely composition to highlight your holiday decor.

Adored as a cheerful, seasonal favorite in NYC, our Holiday Sonnet is one of the most popular requests for Starbright to craft, and it’s easy to see why! Nestled in an 8” bubble bowl, this joyful composition, inspired by the excitement of the holiday season in Manhattan, features lotus pods with unique, two-toned hydrangea in green and burgundy tones. Miniature pinecones with brunia, garden roses and jubilant, holiday greenery styled in a lush garden presentation complete the Starbright masterpiece and make the Holiday Sonnet a distinctive selection to celebrate the season with in New York City. Normally $109.95, this beautiful bouquet has the special friends & family pricing in NYC of $79.95.

Starbright's Holiday Sonnet creates is cheerful, festive composition that brightens every day.
Starbright’s Holiday Sonnet creates is cheerful, festive composition that brightens every day.

In keeping with our tradition to bedeck as much of New York City in festive flowers as possible, our Starbright team had the distinct honor to be invited to adorn a private space at 620 Loft and Gardens in Manhattan on behalf of American Express and Starwood Hotels. Celebrating the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in NYC, we were only too thrilled to lend a hand to embellish the space.

Our endlessly creative Starbright designers wanted to honor the season in NYC and did that by creating elegant centerpieces and cascading cedar with pinecones to rest over the doorways to create a winter wonderland.

The greenery and pinecones that Starbright crafted over doorways made an instant impact.
The greenery and pinecones that Starbright crafted over doorways made an instant impact.

On the backdrop of snowy white linens for tablecloths, our Starbright designers chose to combine Jack Frost-approved greens with fresh pinecones to evoke the sense of being in the woodlands in wintertime, while being cocooned in the warmth of Manhattan. This created a low, show-stopping composition that allowed for plenty of discourse over dinner in NYC while still paying homage to the theme.

The lush table runners created joyous place settings.
The lush table runners created joyous place settings.

Using dogwood trimmed vases for a base, Starbright also combined roses with wintergreens which created an extravagant yet graceful vignette for the tables in New York City. In other centerpieces, small twigs of cinnamon were woven in so that the warm scent of the season delicately wafted through the Manhattan air.

The beautiful scent of cinnamon puts everyone into the holiday spirit!
The beautiful scent of cinnamon puts everyone into the holiday spirit!

If you’d like to add a little bit of seasonal magic to your home and business in NYC, everyone at Starbright would be delighted to help! We’ll be able to craft just the perfect creation from our immense selection of the finest holiday decor in New York City. We love brightening up Manhattan when so many are home for the holidays and hope to be invited to enhance your home and business soon!

Have a Starbright-ful Thanksgiving!

Everyone at Starbright Floral Design is always thankful our clients are our friends and our days are filled with flowers. We love what we do in New York City and are so passionate about floral design because we know our work brings smiles to others. And that’s our favorite thing!

In preparation of this Thanksgiving, we’ve been cooking up a floral feast for your senses. If you’re still looking for a bit of inspiration for a centerpiece filled with flowers, we have some ideas for you and would be delighted to deliver any and all of these incredible floral compositions to you in NYC and beyond!

Cornucopias, also know as “horns of plenty”, can trace their origins back to classical antiquity. But here in New York City and all throughout America, these time-honored creations are ubiquitous at Thanksgiving. Of course, the version that Starbright’s visionary designers crafted is abounding with flowers, and we would hope that you’d want it no other way!

Starbright took special care to ensure that the best of autumn’s colors shined in this gorgeous floral composition.
Starbright took special care to ensure that the best of autumn’s colors shined in this gorgeous floral composition.

Filled with sunflowers, roses and additional flowers like calla lilies, we think that our Cornucopias bring a sense of bounty to any gathering. Perfect as a centerpiece or as a statement elsewhere in your home or business in NYC, Cornucopias evoke a sense of welcoming community through their rich composition and lush abundance.

In the spirit of welcoming everyone for a feast, we have also been busy crafting autumnal wreathes, bedecked in flowers. Lovely as an accent on a front door inside or outside in New York City, our wreaths are created to please the eye as much as your Thanksgiving meal will excite the palate.

Wreaths by Starbright bring together corn and wheat to evoke of the harvest.
Wreaths by Starbright bring together corn and wheat to evoke of the harvest.

Of course, there is nothing more apropos than a turkey for Thanksgiving anywhere in New York City and beyond. We wanted to build a floral delight that would last long after the Thanksgiving meal had been devoured and thought a faux turkey would be just the thing to brighten everyone’s day.

A Thanksgiving turkey…the Starbright way!
A Thanksgiving turkey…the Starbright way!

Made with fresh foliage and flowers with a base of fresh, rust toned chrysanthemums, this turkey has been certified as cruelty-free. It’s a great addition for every Thanksgiving celebration, near in NYC or far, that wants to add a bit of whimsy through floral décor.

We know some of our beloved friends don’t adore the cold in New York City and wish that they were someplace warmer for the holidays. It was with them in mind that we created our Tropical Thanksgiving masterpiece.

Calla lilies and mosses beflower our tropical coconuts.
Calla lilies and mosses beflower our tropical coconuts.

Built out of coconuts and adorned with flowers and mosses, our Tropical Thanksgiving is a great gift for a host who wishes that they were celebrating someplace warmer. We were delighted to be asked to create something that would remind the recipient more of Bermuda than NYC and think that the russet calla lilies pay tribute to our turkiest of holidays.

If you’re just realizing that although you have your menu planned out but maybe not the flowers to adorn your Thanksgiving table, give us a ring! We’ll make sure that just the right composition arrives safely at your door…before your guests! Here’s to a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with laughter and love. Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at Starbright.

Starbright Floral Design is a full-service florist located in Midtown NYC that has been brightening New York City for over two decades with flowers, plants and more.

It is our distinct pleasure to be of service to you in creating stunning floral compositions that will make you smile.

We are delighted to be able to carefully deliver each creation through our fleet of dedicated floral concierges in Manhattan, all of New York City and beyond.

In NYC, where anything is possible, we offer same-day delivery for our friends and clients to ensure that when want to send your wishes with flowers, orchids, plants and so much more, we are there to answer the call.

We invite you to visit us online or in our store, which you will find is bursting with flowers and delight in being of service to you. We would be thrilled to make your floral dreams come true! 

Warm regards from all of us at Starbright, “The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps”.

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

 Starbright Floral Design

140 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001

212.229.1610

Saying Thanks with Flowers

“Visits always give pleasure–if not the arrival, the departure.”
Portuguese Proverb

Thanks

There’s lots of guides out there for our Holiday hosts and hostesses. We’ve been doing our research – there is a blog for everything. From cooking to cleaning, seating arrangements to after dinner activities for the kids…these guys have their work cut out for them.

 

To show our appreciation for all that hard work, and food, Starbright Floral decided to put some brain time into how to best show our appreciation with flowers.

Contained arrangements are great  host/hostess gifts, they allow for a quick pass-off and beauty...even days after you've gone!
Contained arrangements are great host/hostess gifts, they allow for a quick pass-off and beauty…even days after you’ve gone!

Saying Thanks with Flowers

The Problem : A bouquet looks best when unwrapped and ready to be admired. There’s nothing better than surprising a friend with flowers, seeing their face light up. But during the holiday’s, handing your host/hostess a handful of flowers, though sure to be appreciated, may cause inconvenience. 

The Solution : During the Holidays, it’s important to consider the timing and the recipient of your show of gratitude. Starbright Floral recommends these three alternatives that will surely go over with even the most harried host. 

Option 1 – Consider calling your host/hostess in advance of the party and voicing your interest in arranging flowers to show your gratitude. It is polite to inquire about preferred colors and a convenient time for delivery on the day of the party.

Option 2 – Arrive with an arrangement, unwrapped and in a vase. This is a great way to keep fuss time minimal for the recipient.

Option 3 – Sometimes the very best way to show your thanks is after the fact. Sending flowers the day after an event is perhaps the best way to treat the host/hostess. 

Tips and Tricks to getting it right.

1. Know your colors

Be aware of your host or hostess’s cultural traditions. Red and green arrangements are lovely, but they may get a funny look at a Chanukah party.  

2. Keep it odd

No, not the arrangement itself – the number of flowers. In the US, a dozen flowers, especially roses, will receive a warm welcome. But if your host/hostess is from elsewhere, an even number of flowers may be considered bad luck. For this reason, an odd number of flowers is generally considered best. Just avoid a bouquet of 13 flowers…many people all over the world consider 13 an unlucky number.

3. Be An Equal Opportunity Giver

Men and women alike appreciate flowers! No matter who is receiving the flowers, the trick to getting it right is to consider their personal tastes. If you’re giving flowers in advance of an occasion, consider their home and occasion theme. If you are sending flowers after the occasion, think about colors you’ve seen that person use. Is there phone case blue? Do they carry an orange wallet? These helpful details are useful guides for color selection.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving Dinner? Check out last weeks post for some ideas to Dress Up Your Table.

Starbright Logo

 

Looking for flowers in New York City? Visit our Event Gallery for inspiration. Or see our daily selection at Starbrightnyc.com.

November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemums, flower with an identity crisis…

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb in the 15th Century BC.  The flower was brought to Japan in the 8th Century and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal.  The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th Century and named from the Greek for “Gold Flower”, a reflection of its original color.

The Chrysanthemum - November Flower....

These days the flowers come in various forms and can be daisy-like, decorative pompons, or buttons.  In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available such as white, purple and red.

In the United States, Chrysanthemums are identified as cheerful holiday flowers.  Fall arrangements and Thanksgiving Day Flowers in NYC and throughout the country incorporate Chrysanthemums in their decor.  However, many European countries (France, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Croatia) have identified Chrysanthemums with death.  Accordingly, their use in floral arrangements is limited to funerals or on graves.

Other Uses:

Be sure to bring Chrysanthemums with you when taking a walk in the jungle.  The flower is considered a natural source as an insect repellent.  The Pyrethins when extracted and applied on the skin in an oil suspension or as a powder can be lethal to insects such as mosquitoes.  The Chinese have used the flower for its antiseptic and antibiotic qualities for centuries.

Starbright Floral Design is located  in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are in a second floor loft space from where our customer’s orders get dispatched.  To learn more about our organization and the work that we do, we would like to invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Either way, we would be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright deliverers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers and plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloon and the like; we are also the go-to florist for events (both corporate and personal).  Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations…. It is what we do!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

 

Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

website: starflor.com

to order flowers: www.starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

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

 

February Birth Flowers (Bush vs. Gore revisited)

Controversy surrounds the true birth flower for February.  There is no consensus and conspiracy theories are abound.  The battle is between the Iris and the Violet.  Both make good cases for being the birth flower.  The Ancient Greeks considered the Violet a symbol of fertility and love and used it in love potions. The Iris’s claim stems from it being named after the Greek Goddess “Iris”, the messenger of love linking heaven and earth via the rainbow.  February is the month containing Valentine’s Day whereupon millions of people send their messages of love.  The floral industry is an industry designed to bring smiles and the spread of love, not litigation.  Accordingly there is no high court to settle the dispute.  Both combatants have a claim to the throne and deserve their place as a representative flower of birth. One reason, perhaps a biased reason, to choose the Violet over the Iris, is that the Iris is one missed key stroke away from being a symbol of fear and detestation (IRS).  Nevertheless, we will treat them equally with love and respect.

Iris by Starbright Floral Design
Iris is a sure favorite for February

Iris

Iris meanings include faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration.  There are many species of Iris widely grown and distributed throughout world.  From their earliest years, irises were used to make perfume and as a medicinal remedy. Today, they are primarily seen in gardens, in bouquets, and in the wild all over the world. The Iris family includes over 200 varieties in a wide spectrum of colors. Irises are one of the easiest perennials to grow.

While garden irises can come in any of these varieties, the flowers’ commercially cut versions include the most popular blue variety, white, and yellow.

The Fleur-de-lis is the national symbol of France.  The Iris is the state flower of Tennessee, and the Fleur-de-lis is the emblem for the city of New Orleans.

The Violet is February too!
Know someone born in February? Violets are a sure fave...

Violet

The Violet’s story stems from Greek mythology. Zeus was in love with a nymph named Lo.  Zeus’s wife was suspicious and jealous of Lo. Zeus being fearful of what his wife might due to Lo, turned Lo into a cow.  As a cow Lo had no choice but to eat the plain dry boring grasses bringing Lo to tears. Zeus, distraught by the tears of his love, he decided to turn her tears into edible flowers. Thus the Violet was created.

The Violet is mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere. They grow best in moist shaded areas but are tolerable of diverse conditions. The flowers are formed from five petals; four are upswept or fan-shaped petals with two per side, and there is one broad, lobed lower petal pointing downward.  With over 400 different variations of the Violet there are a multitude of colors to choose from.  Including blue, purple, white, cream yellow and combinations thereof. The purple Violet, hooded blue Violet and butterfly Violet, is very popular in the eastern United States and is the Wisconsin State Flower.

So what to do for a February birthday?  How do you choose between the Violet or the Iris.

The personality traits of people who have this birth flower are said to be calm, friendly, faithful, hopeful, and enlightened.  Perhaps a person like that will be thrilled with the thought of the gift and not be troubled that you chose one flower over the other.  Perhaps to be safe a bouquet of both the Violet and the Iris is best.

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

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