Guide to

Florists

Big Picture

Whether you buy flowers for a loved one to show you care or to bring the beauty of nature into the home, don’t assume store-bought blossoms are joyful; there could be toxic chemical sprays, exploited workers, or needless waste in their past. Unfortunately, there is little local or regional flower production left in the United States. Most U.S. sold flowers are imported from South America and the Caribbean. But while much of what happens to flowers before they reach your bouquet is beyond the control of local businesses there are still a few important points to consider when asking IzzitGreen.

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Factoids n' Stuff

Roses are the most popular flower sold at florists and flower markets but only last about a week.
Of the close to one billion stems imported into the United States, Columbia accounts for 63% of the total, Ecuador 31% and the rest of the world 6%.
When cared for properly, cut flowers can last anywhere from one to three weeks; if not, they can wither in 24 hours.

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What Goes In?

Besides looking atwhere the flowers come from, the key factor is how the florist shop cares for the flowers. The major things to consider are:

Organic - Organic farming seeks to work with nature, not against it, by building healthy, rich soil to produce plants that are high in nutritional value and resistant to pests and diseases. Workers and surrounding residents of flower farms do not need to breathe toxic chemicals!
Labor Practices - How do growers treat their workers? Growers can receive Fair Trade Certification, which means that the workers—most of whom are women—can put food on their tables and send their children to school. Fair Trade growers also invest in community development and use sustainable farming methods.
Farm Location - Are the flowers grown locally? Even if a South American flower is grown under organic conditions, is it truly sustainable if it needs to be shipped thousands of miles wrapped in gobs of packaging in a refrigerated freighter? Some industry observers say that the shift to a globalized flower market has made it more dependent on plastic and petroleum, which contributes to larger problems such as climate change.
Packaging - Are the flowers sold in more packaging than is really needed? Is the packaging biodegradable? Flowers require special packaging to preserve them, but there are new alternative options.
Energy - It takes a lot of energy to properly care for plants, so are customers leaving with blooms that last or is that energy going into the trash after a few days?

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What Comes Out?

The vases and pots bouquets come in generally last a lot longer than the flowers themselves. Does the florist offer reusable vases? Flower pots made from cow poop? Allow customers to bring their own? And what about the rest of their trash, like dead flowers and shipping packaging--is it recycled, composted, or sent to a landfill?

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How's it Run?

In the shop, greenness means insuring flowers last as long as possible. This means trading water conservation for plant health; changing water daily, as well as cutting stems properly and keeping leaves out of the water, is the only way to prevent bacteria from rotting plants. Just remember, arrangements are an investment; when they end up in the compost sooner rather than later, so do all the resources that went into producing them. If the shop makes local deliveries, how are they getting to you? Think about all the things used in a flower shop, in addition to flowers. Are they using bulk products to reduce packaging, disposing of chemical properly, and running an efficient, healthy ship?

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What They Care About

You want a florist to take care of the flowers in the shop: changing water frequently, spending time to properly cut stems, constantly checking to make sure leaves are not touching the water’s surface. You also want a florist to know you care about where the flowers come from and how they are grown.

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What to Ask

Are any of the flower producers USDA organic certified, Veriflora certified or QAI (Quality Assurance International) certified? Are they labeled as such?
Are any flowers locally produced?
What does the florist do with unsold flowers? Do they compost?
Do they offer fair trade flowers?
What plant foods do they sell? Are they eco-friendly products?
Is the packaging bio-degradable?
How often do they change the water?

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What to Do

Shop for flowers at local farmer’s markets to support your local flower industry.
Consider buying a live plant or bulb.
Tell the florist you'd like to see them offer organic, fair trade, or locally produced options.
Find florists that provide delivery from the closest locations to minimize delivery distances to your home.
Let the florist know if you notice leaves in the water in the shop, or notice a musty smell coming from the buckets.
Ask the florist to arrange hearty flowers over traditional daisies and roses. Chrysanthemums and carnations can last up to 3 weeks, as do woody-stemmed filler like rosemary and heather.
Do your part to care for the arrangement. It may seem wasteful to change the water and rinse the vase daily, but think about all the energy that it took to bring the flowers to your home. Keeping the water clean and trimming all leaves away from the water’s surface is the best thing you can do to keep flowers fresh. Keeping the vase out of direct sunlight and away from heat will also prevent bacteria from growing in the water. Removing the pollen heads from lilies with a tissue (careful, pollen will stain skin and clothing) will also extend the life of the flowers.
Let the florist know if the flowers droop at the base of the bloom after a day or if they never open; it may indicate a problem with shipping from the supplier or a care issue in the shop.
Compost your old flowers.