Many of us decorate porches and patios with hardy mums in the fall. But a little bit of loving and some attention to the calendar can help you get the most out of your mums and even keep them blooming in a garden for years to come.
If you planted mums in the ground back in the fall, then the summer months are important in their growth cycle.
Feeding: From spring through July, nourish your mums twice a month with an all-purpose garden fertilizer mixed in water. Stop feeding in August.
Pinching: By July 15, you should pinch the top growth back 1 to 2 inches. This will ensure that your mums bloom in the fall rather than during the summer.
Controlling pests: Aphids are the most common pests that afflict garden mums. These are small soft-bodied insects about the size of a pinhead. They range in color from green to yellow to black. They make their livings by sucking the sap out of tender new growth. To control them, spray an all-purpose insecticide or insecticidal soap on the plants once a week for a couple of weeks. Take care not to spray plants in direct sun or when the temperature is above 90 degrees.
Now, if you are thinking about planting your potted mum for the first time, here are some steps to take:
• Be sure to water your potted mums daily as warm days will make them thirsty. At the same time, too much water can damage the roots; provide drainage in decorative pots or baskets.
• It’s best to plant the mums in October so their roots have time to grow before cold weather sets in.
• Once the mums are planted, water them thoroughly a couple of times each week through mid-November. This will encourage the roots to grow deeply. The deeper the roots, the stronger the plants will be.
• In late spring, cut the plants down 6 to 8 inches above the ground. This will give you bushy, compact plants with lots of flowers. As spring gives way to summer, follow the instructions above relative to feeding and pinching.
Category: Tips and Tricks
We’ll handle your long-distance Mother’s Day order
Flowers are a time-honored way of letting mom know just how much you love her. But sending flowers long distance can be confusing and sometimes disappointing, especially if you are not familiar with the process and some of the pitfalls.
The Internet has given rise to thousands of flower-delivery options. But how do you know you’re really getting a good price and high-quality service? And will the flowers arrive on time?
That great price might not be so great
Many websites touting great prices show you a gorgeous arrangement – only to deliver a bunch of flowers in a box that mom still has to put in a vase. In many cases, what is delivered is similar to what you’ll find in a grocery store or at a street vendor. It might be a nice bouquet but not arranged in a container; often, the container costs extra.
After adding extra charges such as service and delivery fees, the great price that first got your attention might not be any better than what a local florist would charge.
Beware of unscrupulous companies
Perhaps you know of a florist where mom lives. But be careful if you use a search engine to find contact information for that florist. Many unscrupulous companies make themselves appear to be local florists – maybe the one that you’re familiar with – by using a similar name or even a local phone number (that ultimately rings to another state).
These companies tend to charge high service and delivery fees, only to hand off the delivery to someone else. They charge you fees that they didn’t earn, and you don’t get what you paid for.
Call early – and call Connells Maple Lee
You can avoid these hassles and ensure the best results by placing your order early – and by calling us when you do.
We’re proud to be your local florist, but we also are one of the largest senders of long-distance orders in the country. Other florists want to keep us happy because they want to continue receiving our business. We also foster our relationships with them through our regular participation in national florist meetings.
In short, we can resolve the rare problem when it occurs. What’s more, we have strong ties to FTD and Teleflora, the two largest wire services that florists use to transmit their orders, and they will step in if necessary to make sure that problems are addressed to our customers’ satisfaction.
Sending flowers long distance can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Just call us, and we’ll make the process easy. We’ll handle your out-of-town order with the same care and attention it would receive if we were delivering it ourselves.
Here’s how to extend the life of your Easter blooms
Even after the Easter Bunny has visited and the last eggs are hunted, Easter plants will bring beauty and color into your home. In fact, you can make the flowers last a lot longer by following some easy steps.
What’s more, after your bulb plants – such as daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, crocus and narcissus – have finished blooming, you can transplant the bulbs into the ground and watch the flowers come up next year.
The key to making the flowers/blooms last longer – perhaps twice as long – is to keep the plants in a cool place, such as at night. This will stall the normal aging process, extending the life of the blooms.
While you’re sleeping, place the plants in your garage or out on your porch (but don’t let them freeze), and then bring them back inside your house in the morning. For smaller plants, such as a single-bloom hyacinth, you might even have room in your refrigerator.
Of course, it’s also important to keep the plants watered.
Once the blooms peak, let the plant die back into itself, nourishing the bulb. Keep the bulb in its pot and store in a cool, dark place. In early fall, separate the bulbs and plant them in your garden in anticipation of their blooming again next spring.
Getting the most out of your Valentine’s roses
Valentine’s season can last well beyond Feb. 14. In fact, by following some simple steps, your roses should provide you with a week or more of enjoyment.
All Royer’s arrangements arrive in vases that contain a mixture of water and flower food (FloraLife, in our case). You just need to make sure that there is enough water over time as roses are surprisingly thirsty.
Other tips for getting the most out of your roses:
For roses that arrive in a vase:
• If your roses don’t begin to open within a few days, remove them from the vase, re-cut their stems and return them to the vase. Although not necessary, cut the stems under water if possible.
• Keep the flowers cool: the cooler they are, the less water they will lose through their stems and petals.
• Add water in a sink so that any spillage will not damage a table or other furniture that the roses are sitting on.
For roses that arrive in a box or loose:
• Put water in the vase and add the packet of flower food that came with your delivery.
• Cut approximately one inch off the bottom of the rose to create a fresh pathway for water to work its way up the stem.
• Remove any foliage or thorns that may get stuck when the stems are placed in the vase.
• If you add any greens, make sure that any foliage is above the water. Foliage under water promotes unwanted bacterial growth.
By following those steps, you’re ready for the final, most important step of all: enjoy your roses!
Local florist bests big delivery sites in Yahoo! ‘Savvy Spender’ comparison
Yahoo!’s “Savvy Spender” set out to review four of the top floral delivery sites: 1800Flowers.com, ProFlowers.com, Teleflora and FTD.
But at the end of the day — or approximately 2:40 of this video clip — it was a local florist that outshone the big online retailers.
“To see how a local florist compares to the online experience, we ordered a dozen roses from our neighborhood florist,” said Savvy Spender host Vera Gibbons. “It was by far the most impressive arrangement with the longest stems, the most vibrant roses, and beautiful accents.
“Remember, roses travel all the way from South America, and it takes a professional florist to rehydrate them properly.”
3 Tips for Choosing Flowers She Will Love
There are many ways to show the special lady in your life that you care, but none is so simple and classic than giving her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The trick is to pick the perfect kind to make her feel special. Here are a few tips that can help you in your quest:
Choose Her Birth Flower
Add an extra bit of thoughtfulness to your gift by choosing her birth flower. If you’re not familiar with the concept, birth flowers are similar to birthstones—each month has its own special flower. If she was born in April, bring her a gorgeous bunch of sweet peas. If she was born in July, she’ll love the beautiful larkspurs you bring her. If she’s an October girl, you can’t go wrong with a vibrant marigold.
Pick a Flower in Her Favorite Color
If you’re stuck, find out what color she loves most and pick a flower based on that. For instance, if she likes blue, she’ll love the beautiful blue hydrangeas you bring her. If she’s a fan of yellow, pick out some chrysanthemums or gladiolas to brighten up her day. She’ll appreciate the thought you put in to choosing something especially for her.
Go for a Classic
If you’re stumped, go for an old favorite; for example, red roses will let her know you care. Calla lilies are an elegant choice that she is bound to love. For a fun gift, give her a bouquet of sunflowers and tell her how much she brightens up your life.
For help picking out the perfect floral arrangement for the special woman in your life, come to Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts. Our friendly floral experts will guide you through our amazing selection of flowers, plants, and gifts. If you have any questions, give us a call at (614) 539-4000.
Want More Flower Arrangement Tips? Check Out These Links
Flowers are a stunning and beautiful addition to your home. Check out these articles and websites to learn more about DIY floral arrangements and the benefits of shopping at your local floral shop. Call Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts at (614) 808-1693 to order your fresh flowers today.
- If you want to try some DIY floral arrangements for your wedding, check out The Knot’s page oncreating boutonnieres.
- For the ultimate in do-it-yourself wedding flowers, visit Martha Stewart’s page to get inspiration and instructions.
- When you shop local, everybody wins! Check out this article to learn more about the communityadvantages of local small businesses.
- Read this helpful guide to find tips for helping you choose the best wedding florist for your needs.
- To learn about caring for fresh-cut flowers, check out this informative article.
Choose Local When It Comes to Flowers
Buying flowers is a wonderful way to brighten your day or let someone know that you are thinking of him or her. While you have many choices when it comes to where you’ll purchase your flowers, shopping at a local florist is always best. Here’s why:
No Hidden Fees
Buying flowers from a national company costs more because of the service fees added to the cost of the flowers. These fees can be even higher during peak holidays and rarely include the cost of delivery. Ordering flowers from a local florist reduces the price you’ll pay—there aren’t additional fees or service charges. If there is a delivery fee, your local florist will be upfront with you about it.
High-Quality Flowers
A local florist has access to the same resources as a national company, plus connections with local growers. The quality, longevity, and beauty of your flowers will be just as high as from a national company, if not higher. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also get a fresher, more beautiful product since your flowers won’t be enduring excessive shipping and inadequate storage arrangements.
Personal Relationship
When you use your local florist for all of your floral needs, you begin to develop a personal relationship with the shop. This means that your florist will have a better idea of what you need and want as you continue to do business with them. You’ll be able to establish trust with your florist and feel confident that he or she can deliver exactly what you need.
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts is your local florist of choice. We offer beautiful, high-quality flowers that will brighten anyone’s day. To place an order or to speak with one of our florists, call us at (614) 808-1693 today.
Find Helpful Flower Tips In These Resources
From ordering flowers to caring for them at home, the information in the resources below is sure to help you out. Call Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts at (614) 808-1693 to place your order today.
• If you’re not sure how to communicate effectively with your florist, you’ll find this TLC article extremely helpful.
• If you’d like to take advantage of the health benefits of plants, check out this article to learn which plants filter air the best.
• To learn about the benefits of shopping at local businesses, like a local florist, check out this page from Chron.com.
• Get the top 10 reasons for supporting local business on this informative webpage.
• Learn how to keep your fresh cut flowers alive for longer on this page from RealSimple.com.
The Benefits of Using a Local Florist Instead of a National Florist
Anytime you need flowers, a qualified florist is the person you need to see. While it might seem easy and convenient to just order your flowers online, doing so can cause you to lose out on the amazing benefits of ordering locally. Many local florists do have websites that allow you to order directly from them, but it’s important to be sure that the website is not a national flower service. Benefits of ordering local include:
• Having a personal point of contact. Keeping your business local ensures you that you can speak to someone about your order, whether it’s to check the status of your order or to make changes to it. Ordering from a national florist makes it very difficult to speak to someone in person, and if you do, you’ll likely get a different person every time you call.
• Getting the most out of your money. When you order flowers locally, you’ll not only have the opportunity to aid your local economy through small business support, but you’ll also keep your tax dollars in the county and state in which you live. Moreover, you won’t have to pay outrageous handling fees for the convenience of ordering online, which means you get more flowers for less money.
• Seeing your flowers in person. When you order online, you have no guarantee that the picture of the flowers you order is actually what you will be sending. Ordering local gives you the opportunity to stop by the shop and see exactly what you’re paying for. Most national florists forward your order to a local shop anyway, so it’s best to go straight to the source from the beginning and avoid the confusion and headache that could result from online orders.
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts is here to be your trusted local florist. Give us a call at (614) 808-1693 today to learn firsthand about the amazing benefits of ordering flowers locally. We also offer wedding flowers, gift baskets, and flowers for all occasions.