As sunny summer weather holds strong, you’ll probably find yourself jonesing to bring a bit of that fresh, airy feel inside your home with cut flowers. And you don’t have to spend a fortune for pretty gorgeous flower arrangements. Here’s what to do to keep costs low.
Know Your Source
It’s OK to get a cheap bunch of flowers at the supermarket, but be warned that some flowers are discounted because they’ve been sitting for a while. The more recently your flowers have been cut, the longer they will last. And the less often you’re replacing your flowers, the less you will spend in the long run, even if you pay a little more per bunch.
Get Friendly With Your Florist
Head to your local farmers market or flower shop and ask lots of questions about the blooms you are buying. Untrustworthy sellers might try to pass off old flowers on you. If you find someone you can trust to tell it to you straight, you can ask which are freshest and feel good in the answer.
Go In-Season
Local in-season blooms are almost always more affordable than exotic flowers that have been shipped from other places. So no matter where you shop, you are likely to find the best deals on flowers that are in abundance in your area right now. The exact varieties will depend on where you are and what your seller has in spades, but here’s an idea of what you might find in each season:
- Summer: Hydrangeas, delphinium, ranunculus, roses, and daisies.
- Fall: Marigold, goldenrod, alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, and lilies.
- Winter: Poinsettias, amaryllis, crocuses, and greens such as holly and berries.
- Spring: Tulips, freesia, daffodils, hyacinths, and violets.
Don’t Be Afraid to Pick the Cheap Ones
Cheap flower varieties — we’re talking about you, carnations — can get a bad rap, but they can be really pretty. Choose your cheap blooms in natural-looking colors (not those weird, bold, food-coloring dyed ones), and place them in simple, modern vases or mason jars. Nix any tacky greenery or baby’s breath that comes with them. Stick to just the blooms.
Keep the Arrangements Small
Obviously more flowers equal more money, so don’t feel like you need to fill up huge vases with tons of blooms. Instead, grab a bunch of bud vases. Glass pickle jars, spaghetti sauce jars, and pretty wine bottles will offer a trendy and eclectic look and won’t cost you a thing. For extra color and the feel of abundance, accent your flowers with small bowls of fruit — don’t think of it as extra cost if you’ll eat it anyway!
Cut Your Own
Got beautiful blooms in your own yard? Cut them to use as décor in your home, especially if a certain kind is overtaking your garden. They are free and can carry any themes or color schemes from your outdoors to your indoors. Plus, you know they are super fresh!
Make Them Last Longer
Avoid buying flowers with any dried or brown petals or leaves — they have been sitting a while and aren’t going to last long. Cut stems on an angle, at least an inch from the bottom, and put your flowers in water as soon as possible.
Use a vase that’s been thoroughly cleaned with soap and water — and maybe even a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria. Keep replenishing with clean water to keep your blooms looking great. You may get up to 10 days’ use out of one small purchase.
