Green Trends in Floristry: Let’s Buy Flowers Without Harming the Planet
Flowers are a precious gift from nature, lifting our spirits and bringing brightness and beauty into our daily lives. Splashes of vibrant colors in our gardens cut flowers in our homes, bouquets, and posies received from loved ones – throughout history, flowers have been enjoyed, admired, and celebrated.
But we’re now living in the reality of the 21st century where agriculture and growing things have become a little more complicated. It has become a matter of some urgency to use more sustainable methods to grow and consume agricultural products without further harming the planet.
Green agriculture practices are needed to preserve the soil, conserve water, and decrease the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This eco trend also applies to the floristry industry which has had to change and adapt with the times. However, this move to save our planet also means that we, the flower-buying customers need to play our part by consuming less and learn how to make flowers last longer to extend their lifespan.
This article explores green trends in floristry and how to buy flowers without harming the planet.
Green Trends In Floristry
In recent years, florists have joined the green movement by taking these measures:
- Increasingly using locally grown and seasonal flowers.
- Supporting local flower growers to cut down on transportation.
- Supplementing their arrangements with wildflowers, moss, vines, and dried flowers.
- Switching to biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable materials in their floral arrangements such as biodegradable flower wrapping and ribbons made of natural fibers.
- Using natural floral foam instead of the traditional non-biodegradable plastic foam that’s been used for decades.
- Offering potted plants in attractive vases as alternatives to cut flowers.
Supporting Organic Practices
However, sustainable practices in growing flowers is not the sole responsibility of florists and flower growers. We, the customers who buy cut flowers, should also contribute to this green initiative by preferably buying flowers that have been cultivated sustainably. One of the ways we can do this is by looking for the BloomCheck logo on the packaging of the flowers we’re buying. Other sustainability programs in the floral industry include Florverde, Veriflora, and Rain Forest Alliance, among others. These organizations also certify imported flowers.
Not only in the US. Dubai, for example, launched a long-term plan to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the UAE and make its economy more environment-friendly, so buying flowers from a floral delivery there is already a green choice.
So, the next time you buy those beautiful blooms, look for the eco-friendly sustainable certification logo. If in doubt, don’t be shy to ask your florist about it.
Tips To Make Your Cut Flowers Last Longer
Sustainable practices in the commercial floristry industry like flower delivery can provide you with the necessary information. However, we, the flower-buying public, should also be willing to play our part by simply making sure that the beautiful cut flowers that we buy last as long as possible.
Here are some tips:
Trim Stems
When arranging your flowers, you should cut the stems at a 45-degree angle. This creates a larger surface for the stems to absorb water.
Remove Leaves
Remove leaves below the water in the vase. Submerged leaves promote bacterial growth.
Use Flower Food
Add flower food to the water, this will make your flowers last longer. The main ingredients in flower food are rather simple: citric acid, sugar, and bleach. These ingredients nourish the flowers and reduce bacteria. A caring floral delivery will always provide you with a bag of such food.
Change Water Regularly
It’s best to change the water in the vase with fresh water every 2-3 days – or when it starts to get that cloudy look.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Don’t put your flowers in direct sunlight, drafts, or hot areas. Direct sunlight can cause wilting.
Final Thoughts
Let’s play our part in helping to preserve our planet and celebrate nature’s gifts by supporting eco-friendly florists and buying cut flowers that have been sustainably grown.