Giving a bouquet of flowers to your mother on Mother’s Day or to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day is a traditional gesture we all partake in. The unfortunate reality is that holidays are often the only occasion we send flowers as a gesture of love, encouragement, or friendship. One of the reasons is that fresh-cut flowers are just so expensive, and end up in the garbage in a few weeks, anyway. From a financial standpoint, this is a waste of money. Still, giving flowers is a worthwhile gesture which shouldn’t be neglected just because of the expense. The good news is that you can continue to give flowers and still save money by choosing to shop at the supermarket instead of the florist. Before you write off this alternative as too cheap for your taste, consider this: florist arrangements can cost up to 10 times as much as supermarket flowers.
Most supermarket bouquets cost between $6 and $15, whereas the average cost of floral arrangements varies from $40 to $100. Although there’s no argument that supermarket flowers don’t usually look as nice as florist shop flowers, is the difference worth that much money? It’s your call. If you decide to give supermarket flowers a try, here are some ways to save money without sacrificing quality.
Choose flowers known for their longevity.
One way to make the most of supermarket bouquets is to know your flowers. Even expensive flowers eventually die, and certain flowers are known to die sooner than others. Want a long-lasting bouquet? Choose carnations, which can last up to 10 days. Another hardy choice is alstroemeria, similar in appearance to a tiger lily; gerbera daisies and roses last up to 7 days, and tulips last up to 6 days.
Take proper care depending on the type of flower. Unless you’re a gardener, you’re probably doing good to make sure your flower stems get cut at an angle and put in water. The catch is that if you take a few minutes to learn about flowers’ special needs, a supermarket bouquet can outlast a comparable floral arrangement. For instance:
- Add a drop of bleach to a vase of gerbera daisies to eliminate bacteria.
- Don’t remove stems from roses because they help distribute nutrients to the flower.
- Tulip bulbs benefit more from store-bought bulb feed than the packets they come with.
Find out when the supermarket receives fresh flower deliveries. We’ve all seen the sad 3-day old discount bouquets that no one will buy. Consider inquiring with your supermarket’s manager to find out when the store receives flower deliveries so you can have first pick of the freshest and nicest-looking flowers.
By following these tips, you can end up with a $10 bouquet that looks like it was hand-picked from a florist ship. And by saving money on fresh flowers, you can give them more frequently than just on holidays. After all, it really is the thought that counts.
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