{"id":3354,"date":"2012-04-25T05:09:31","date_gmt":"2012-04-25T12:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/couponshoebox.com\/tips\/?p=3354"},"modified":"2012-04-20T10:10:15","modified_gmt":"2012-04-20T17:10:15","slug":"flowers-florist-or-supermarket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/couponshoebox.com\/tips\/flowers-florist-or-supermarket\/","title":{"rendered":"Flowers: Florist or Supermarket?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Giving a bouquet of flowers to your mother on Mother\u2019s Day or to your sweetheart on Valentine\u2019s Day is a traditional gesture we all partake in. The unfortunate reality is that holidays are often the only<\/em> occasion we send flowers as a gesture of love, encouragement, or friendship<\/a>. One of the reasons is that fresh-cut flowers are just so expensive, <\/em>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\u2019t 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.\u00a0 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Most supermarket bouquets cost between $6 and $15, whereas the average cost of floral arrangements varies from $40 to $100. Although there\u2019s no argument that supermarket flowers don\u2019t usually look as nice as florist shop flowers, is the difference worth that much money? It\u2019s your call. If you decide to give supermarket flowers a try, here are some ways to save money without sacrificing quality.<\/p>\n

Choose flowers known for their longevity.<\/strong>
\nOne 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.<\/p>\n

Take proper care depending on the type of flower. <\/strong>Unless you\u2019re a gardener, you\u2019re 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\u2019 special needs, a supermarket bouquet can outlast a comparable floral arrangement. For instance:<\/p>\n