Irish Florists > Floristry > Buying Flowers

Floristry - Buying Flowers

The first thing to remember when buying flowers is that you should by the freshest blooms possible. Check the condition of the flowers, they must be in premium condition without and damage or signs of wilting.

If possible buy the flowers directly from the market. Most of the flowers used by Irish florists are sourced in Holland but it is possible to purchase Irish-grown stock.

Many varieties of flowers are available all year round as they are grown all over the world in places as far away as Columbia and Kenya.

The purchase cost depends upon availability which in turn depends upon the demand world wide.

What to Look for when Buying flowers

The following are the basic things to keep in mind when buying flowers

• Blooms must appear to be firm and be bright in colour
• Look from robust stems and avoid any with a sign of weakness
• Avoid flowers that are broken or whose heads are damaged
• Check for falling petals or any discolouration. This could be a signal of ageing or diseased stock
• Avoid any blooms if there is a yellowing of foliage
• Flowers that have been stored for a while may be yellow at the bottom of the stem and / or may smell
• Yellowing of the calyx is a sign of old or possibly diseased flowers
• Tightly packed roses can be prone to a fungal disease, bortrytis. Check petals carefully for fungus-like growth
• Lilies and spray carnation buds should show colour as totally green buds may not develop

Buying Flowers - Average Number of Stems

When buying flowers commercially they are usually sold with a certain amount of stems depending upon the variety of flower. The following is a list of flowers and the number of stems to expect:

Buying Foliage for Floristry

Similar rules to those that apply to buying flowers also apply to the purchase of foliage. Never buy any stems that smell, are damaged, or that are going yellow. The lower leaves of old foliage will start to yellow and the upper leaves will show curling at the edges.

The primary rule when buying materials for floristry is that if there is any doubt about the quality just don't buy. Quality is everything.

Floristry - Buying Flowers - Colours & Floristry - Flower Arranging - Flower Care - Flower Conditioning - Flower Shapes