Flower Tips & Advice

Buying local says and does so many great things!

We are proud to provide fresh, beautiful locally grown flowers to our community!

Creates local jobs – We provide approximately 200 jobs locally to bring you the Busch Flower Farm fresh flowers.

Reduce Environmental Impact –Less transportation is required when buying local flowers. Many come to the USA via ship, airplane and truck which can take several days before they arrive in the Midwest.

The flowers will be the freshest – Most import flowers are cut one week or longer before they arrive, many from South America. Locally grown flowers are harvested daily to get you the very freshest flowers.

Proud to serve our community – We are proud to offer beautiful, fresh, Minnesota Grown flowers. It gives us great pleasure to know that the beauty we work so hard to create is staying right here and going to our local customers.

Think Local + Buying Local = Being a Local! (sustainableconnections.org)

You know that little packet of flower food you get in flowers that you purchase?

Do you wonder what it is for and if it’s really necessary? It is. Please use it!

During their growing phase plants produce sugar. After flowers have been cut so is their source of food.

So use those packets!

Give your flowers the extra nutrition they need and keep them fresher longer. Helpful hint – read the packet and follow the measuring guidelines.

Do you clean, really clean, your vases after using them? A little bleach and water is a great way to disinfect and sterilize your vase before putting in your new bunch of flowers in it.

Trim before putting in a vase – even on the short trip home from the store, the bottom of the stems can get dry. By trimming about ½ inch off the bottoms will open up the stem’s fresh tissue so that its ability to efficiently absorb water is greater.

Keep the water fresh! Fresh flowers like fresh water. Change out the water out every couple of days or if you see the water getting cloudy.

Heat and Bright Light = not optimal. Unlike when flowers are still in the ground and in their growing cycle, a cut flower is now at its peak. Exposing them to heat and bright light will encourage them to mature faster. To keep them longer lasting, it is actually best to keep them in a cooler, darker space.

When choosing flowers to create your own vased arrangement, look for a variety of textures and sizes in flowers.

This will give a more interesting look. For example: Lilies (Focal), Alstroemeria (Secondary) and Snapdragon (line flower).

Follow these simple steps to elevate the design of your vase of flowers:

• Choose the appropriate size vase. A great standard size is a 6”-8” tall flair vase.
• Fill vase with water using flower food packets included. Read instructions for best results.
• Bring vase to the edge of your workspace for ease in flower measuring.
• Take tallest flowers (line flowers) and measure 2 times the height of the vase, and cut. (Examples of line flowers are snapdragons and delphinium).
• Then add the focal flower – this should sit right above the lip of your vase in the focal area. (Example of focal flowers are lilies and gerbera)
• Lastly, fill in with secondary flowers – these should go between the focal and line flowers. (examples of secondary flowers are alstroemeria, tulips, calla lilies, lisianthus, spray roses and cut kalanchoe)
• Optional: to give a fuller look, add in additional filler flowers (such as baby’s breath) and foliage (greens).

Kalanchoe and Calandiva

The Kalanchoe (Calandiva is a variety of Kalanchoe) is actually part of the succulent family, and like all succulents they do not like to “sit” in water.

Water: when the top 1 inch of the soil feels dry (dried out) and make sure to allow any excess water to drain. If you have a mister, they like to have their leaves misted frequently to keep the green leaves succulent.

Light: Bright, sunny locations

Gerbera Daisy

Since the Gerbera is a tropical flower they love light (indirect) and water!

Water: when the top soil gets dry to the touch it is thirsty. The best way to water is to put the daisy in a pan of shallow water and let sit for 3-5 hours while it absorbs the water.  This will also help avoid overwatering which they do not like.

Light: Bright morning sunlight is preferred. If in indirect sunlight make sure that it gets light all day long.

Begonia

Begonias like a lot of light. You will want to keep these plants in warmer temperatures (above 55 degrees).

Water: when the top soil is dry to the touch, then it is time to water. Some experts say to wait until the plant is slightly droopy before watering. This will help avoid accidental overwatering.

Light: Bright, indirect light is best, unless you have a thin curtain to help filter the sunlight. Begonias like humidity as well!

Primula

Primulas are a great indoor winter and spring plant.

Water: Primulas like water. As soon as the topsoil feels dry it needs water. Water regularly so it does not dry out. Signs of wilting is also an indication that it is time to water but it is better not to get to this stage.

Light: Keep in bright sunlight and cool area.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen are a tropical plant and do not like cool temperatures (likes to be above 40 degrees).

Water: Cyclamen are sensitive to over watering and under watering – best is to water when soil is dry to the touch. Good drainage is important. Water below the leaves and direct water to the soil to avoid getting stems and leaves wet. This can cause rot.