Ask a Flower Buyer anything

30 Questions

Last Answer on April 18, 2013

Do you see the flower markets moving back to more fragrant varietals as opposed to the hardy strains bred for hardiness to bring to market - and do you have the power to influence it through your position?

Asked by dcboyla over 12 years ago

Fragrance is very important and unfortunately has been bred out of flowers, not on purpose, but as a result of looking for longer vase life. I think with continually improving ways of getting flowers direct from farms to the end consumer, we will see more growers looking again at flowers like garden roses and peonies, which have fragrance as commercially viable crops. The industry will continue to develop and improve flowers which last longer too. There is a market for the fragrant blooming flower that last only 4 days and there is a market for flowers which last 2-3 weeks and have no fragrance. I do make suggestions to growers on what crops make sense for them, based on who they are selling to - supermarkets, wholesalers, retail shops or designers.

479 Votes

Not to sound like a total idiot male, but WHY are women so infatuated with flowers? They're pretty for a few days and then die, doesn't seem like there's much value there.

Asked by Lucky777 over 12 years ago

Because women are cool and flowers are cool! Sending or giving that special someone a gift that will only last a short time shows that you care. A small bouquet can liven up any room. Side note: Flowers should last more than a few days. Mini callas last for 2-3 weeks Lilies, if you get them still in bud stage when you buy them will last 7+ days easily!

479 Votes

How much does weather affect the floral industry? Do droughts, for example, make a year less profitable?

Asked by shedigsflowers over 12 years ago

A ton !!!!

We watch the weather channel all the time and are checking weather in Colombia, Ecuador, Holland and the whole US.

We have to deal with weather affecting the crop as it grows and the flowers as they are shipped to shops or the end consumer

463 Votes

Flowers from Orange tree in big quantities. What demand and price to expect ?

We used to sell oranges as fruit but they give us so little price, last year we left them on trees. I just bumb to you, so what you thing, Can we sell them as flowers ?

Asked by Kleopatra, over 12 years ago

I have seen branches of pomegranates and oranges sold. I would check with wholesale florists in your areea to see if they see a market for it. You would also have to figure out good packaging.

462 Votes

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What's the most you've heard of someone spending on flowers for their wedding?

Asked by Luca over 12 years ago

The most would be a wedding for a Saudia Arabian Prince. They contacted a large Dutch export company that I worked for and the order was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. That was just the cost of the flowers, not the design work !

456 Votes

What's the best bang-for-the-buck flower? I used to get orchids, which I always thought bloomed well and lasted ages, all for under $20.

Asked by Tori over 12 years ago

The key for 'bang for the buck' bouquets is to get something fresh !

If you are getting these at the supermarket, ask them when there shipment arrives.

In the winter, Tulips are a great flower to add color, in the spring go for some Peonies (my favorite). I like to try different flowers and remember the more you take care of the flowers- change the water and recut the stems, the longer they will last and make you happy

454 Votes

Do florists or growers dye flowers? Can a flower type be bred to be any color you want?

Asked by Kim over 12 years ago

Yes, growers and florist do dye flowers. There are Rainbow Tulips and Rainbow Roses

I have included a link to a photo of the roses below:

http://www.flowermuse.com/bright-rainbow-roses.html

The process is very labor intensive to do a multi-color flower, you have to slice the stem bottom in 4 sections and then sit each section in a different dye.

Some flowers can be spray painted, yes sprayed with a vegetable based dye to change the color. This process is used for hydrangea many times.

Breeders are constantly looking for new colors. You may have a yellow rose that has great qualities and you want to see if you can have the same rose, but in an orange colors- sometimes they cna make this happen and sometimes they cannot.

447 Votes

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Flower Buyer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do you see the flower markets moving back to more fragrant varietals as opposed to the hardy strains bred for hardiness to bring to market - and do you have the power to influence it through your position?

Not to sound like a total idiot male, but WHY are women so infatuated with flowers? They're pretty for a few days and then die, doesn't seem like there's much value there.

How much does weather affect the floral industry? Do droughts, for example, make a year less profitable?

Flowers from Orange tree in big quantities. What demand and price to expect ?

We used to sell oranges as fruit but they give us so little price, last year we left them on trees. I just bumb to you, so what you thing, Can we sell them as flowers ?

Also on Jobstr...

What's the most you've heard of someone spending on flowers for their wedding?

What's the best bang-for-the-buck flower? I used to get orchids, which I always thought bloomed well and lasted ages, all for under $20.

Do florists or growers dye flowers? Can a flower type be bred to be any color you want?

Flower Buyer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do you see the flower markets moving back to more fragrant varietals as opposed to the hardy strains bred for hardiness to bring to market - and do you have the power to influence it through your position?

Not to sound like a total idiot male, but WHY are women so infatuated with flowers? They're pretty for a few days and then die, doesn't seem like there's much value there.

How much does weather affect the floral industry? Do droughts, for example, make a year less profitable?

Flowers from Orange tree in big quantities. What demand and price to expect ?We used to sell oranges as fruit but they give us so little price, last year we left them on trees. I just bumb to you, so what you thing, Can we sell them as flowers ?

Also on Jobstr...

What's the most you've heard of someone spending on flowers for their wedding?

What's the best bang-for-the-buck flower? I used to get orchids, which I always thought bloomed well and lasted ages, all for under $20.

Do florists or growers dye flowers? Can a flower type be bred to be any color you want?

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Flowers from Orange tree in big quantities. What demand and price to expect ?

We used to sell oranges as fruit but they give us so little price, last year we left them on trees. I just bumb to you, so what you thing, Can we sell them as flowers ?