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Home Shop Flowers Bloomin' Blog Find Florists About FSN Contact FSN Florists Only!

Help! Why Won’t My Christmas Cactus Bloom?

Ask The Expert:

“I have had this Christmas cactus for 15 years, it’s bloomed once. What am I doing wrong?” – Elizabeth

Christmas CactusFlower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Elizabeth,

While you may think that temperature is a factor in blooming, daylight length is actually the key. Christmas cacti are triggered to bloom during short days. This can be achieved by placing the plant in a dark bedroom or by covering the plant for 15 or more hours a day. It may take up to a month to trigger the plant to produce bloom buds, but once the buds appear the plant can be returned to its usual viewing location. Remember to avoid extreme temperatures that would hinder bud release.

Click for more information on the Christmas Cactus.

Florist Friday Recap 6/23 – 6/29: Simply Beautiful

It’s Friday! Every Friday we post a recap of all the fabulous pictures florists post to our Facebook wall during the week. This week, it seems like florists everywhere are celebrating! Many wedding flowers in today’s lineup, and a special appearance by a unique design made especially for a BIG celebrity! Who? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

Sending Smiles - Monday Morning Flowers, Princeton NJ

By Monday Morning Flowers, Princeton NJ

“Just thought I’d share Designer Normans smiling face with you there at Flower Shop Network!”

Bentley Florist, Burton MI

Wedding centerpiece by Bentley Florist, Burton MI

“Garden wedding centerpiece made at Bentley Florist”

[Read more…]

Have You Claimed Your Bing Listing?

Bing Getting Started

It’s very important to make sure all of your information is correct and consistent across all web profiles and listings. If you have not claimed your Bing listing, what are you waiting for?

Claiming your Bing Local listing is another of the FREE services that you can use to make your shop’s presence known and control the information that search engines see about your flower shop. It’s as simple as that. Actually, FSN has made it even easier for florists. We have a Checklist for Claiming Your Bing Listing you can print out to keep the information you provide for your own records. We have also recently updated (just yesterday!) our Complete Guide to Claiming Your Bing Listing that will walk you through, as a florist, with examples and screen shots.

FSN is committed to helping florists promote themselves and their businesses, both on and off the web.

How Florists Keep Flowers Cool During The Heat

Wooo! It’s a scorcher out there, and it’s only going to get worse! I don’t know about you, but I can barely keep my lawn alive during this heat, and flowers — forget about it! So how is it florists keep such beautiful flowers all year long, even Sun - Heating Things up for Floristson deliveries?! Here are some tips our florists shared with us yesterday.

Tips For Keeping Flowers Cool In The Heat

  • Make sure the A/C in your delivery vehicle is in good shape and prepared for summer.
  • Make sure the delivery vehicle is cooled off before loading. via Lisa from West End Florist, Rome GA
  • Invest in a spare key so you can leave the car running while making other deliveries. – via Emily from The Enchanted Florist, Asheville NC
  • Check newly arrived flowers for improper temperatures.
  • Immediately prep and refrigerate newly arrived flowers.
  • Try not to move flowers in and out of the cooler while designing.
  • Make sure the temperature of your cooler is adjusted properly for your flowers.
  • Choose lighter colored delivery vehicles to help keep them cool.

Flowers and plants need to be kept at a certain temperature in order to breath and intake food properly. Keeping flowers at a consistent temperature is vital for reaching a it’s full vase-life potential. Low temperatures also slow down the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms, which will extend the vase life for customers.

Before a flower arrives at your local flower shop, it has made a long journey. Starting with the growers, they are shipped in refrigerated planes or trucks to the wholesale level. Wholesalers keep these flowers in coolers until they are shipped to the florist, who also stores them inside a cooler. After all this refrigeration, you can see why flowers would get finicky once they are out of the cool. Florists do their best to maintain the right temperatures for their flowers.

[Read more…]

Why Does Over-Watering Kill Plants?

Why Does Over Watering Kill Plants?Ask The Plant Expert:

In the past, I have always started my cuttings in a glass of water, and once they got roots, tried to put them in dirt.  This sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t.

I broke a big chunk off one of my plants when trying to get it to grow the way I wanted it to. So I broke off all the stems, stuck them in some dirt, and have kept the dirt saturated with water. When I say saturated, I mean nearly liquid, there is standing water on top of the soil.

I think, after a week or so, I will start backing off on the water, and I will have a plant.

What I really don’t understand is if plants can grow as cuttings in a glass of water, why does over watering kill plants?  If it is impossible for water to kill a plant, and apparently it is, then there is some other mechanism at work when you over water. – Pete

[Read more…]

Help! What Are These Bugs On My House Plant?

Ask the Plant Expert:

Is this scale? Is this houseplant savable?! – Noah

Mealy Bugs on House Plant

[Read more…]

Florists On Facebook – Friday Recap

TIGI FRIDAY! You know what that means — time for our weekly recap of pictures sent in to us from florists all across the nation. Each week we see just what florists have been up to. From weddings to holidays, your local florist is busy creating beautiful arrangements for all of life’s occasions, both happy and sad. This week it seems to be more towards the latter with quite a few funeral tributes in this week’s collection. Without further adieu, let’s get to the pictures!

Libby's Flowers, Gifts & More, Elberton GA

By Libby’s Flowers, Gifts & More, Elberton GA

“Flower arrangement for my Church. Borrowed my husband’s tool box & tie. We love to make it personable in celebration of all the wonderful fathers out there.”

Turner Flowers & Country Store

By Turner Flowers & Country Store, Ottawa KS

Doc “A horseshoe of yellow roses I did for the memorial service of a long-time veterinarian and quarter horse owner.”

[Read more…]

Sneak Peek: The 2012 Summer Olympics Bouquet

When it comes to the olympics, summer or winter, the entire world stops to take notice. Athletes dedicate their lives to perfection in their sport and compete to take home so much more than a medal. Their accomplishments in the olympics translate into well-deserved glory and honor in their home countries.

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in London from July 27th to August 12th. From archery to gymnastics, cycling to water polo — you can bet competition at these games will be fierce, which is why winners deserve so much respect.

In addition to the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, winners can also expect to receive a unique bouquet of flowers from the Jane Packer floral design studio. Some 4,400 floral “Victory Bouquets” will be presented to athletes along with medals during the Victory Ceremonies.

Story Behind the 2012 Olympics Bouquet

“The Victory Bouquet was designed by [Jane Packer’s] creative director, Susan Lapworth, to reflect the energy and vibrancy of the London 2012 Games. The bouquet is sectioned into boldly coloured quadrants to mirror the 2012 logo. These are separated by typical British food ingredients which also provide an eclectic fragrance.”

[Read more…]

Help! What Is This Odd Flower?

Ask The Plant Expert:

Do you know the name of this flower? This flower is so odd and different.  No one I talk to knows what it is.  Maybe you can help. – Donna

Passion Flower - Passiflora caerulea

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

Donna,

I love this flower. My parents have a big area of passion flowers in the wooded area of their property. The one my parents have is Passiflora incarnata or purple passion flower which is a vine. Yours is most likely Passiflora caerulea which is commonly called blue passion flower or common passion flower. This too is a vine.

  • A sibling to both of these is Passiflora edulis also known as passionfruit.
  • Passiflora can be found in the following states AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV.
  • It can become invasive in the right circumstance.  However, it is a good food source for terrestrial birds.
  • The fruit of the Passiflora caerulea is edible.  However, in the raw form it is not too tasty. When cooked you can use it as a substitution for blackberries.
  • Another benefit of this plant is that it attracts butterflies.

Hope this information was helpful.

Make A Splash: Send Summer Flowers!

Make A Splash With Summer Flowers

Today, June 20th, is the FIRST day of SUMMER! The summer season is just beginning and today is the time of year when the Sun is farthest north, aka the Summer Solstice or the longest day of the year.

How are you planning to celebrate? Summer is the time of year to get outside, have picnics, and go swimming. Who doesn’t enjoy lounging by the lake or beach? This summer, make a splash by bringing the colors of summer indoors with flowers. Use cheerful, sunny colors to really brighten up any home decor.

If you know someone who is unable to get out and enjoy the summer sun, sending flowers is the guaranteed way to put a smile on their face. No matter if they live down the street or across the country, your local florist can help you send them joy.

No matter what, take some time from your busy day to enjoy this long summer day while it lasts. The year will be over before you know it, take your time and savor summer.