Choosing and Caring for Tropical and Exotic Flowers- Viva la difference!

It is always a pleasure to give and receive any kind of flowers, be they bouquets of cut flowers or living plants, but topical and exotic flowers send a very special message. It is even possible to give a mixture in certain circumstances; with a living plant as the centerpiece in a floral tapestry of cut flowers. This is especially true of tropical and exotic flowers where it is likely that the recipient would like something that will live on when the cut flowers have withered.

There are many kinds of tropical and exotic flowers to choose from, and with greenhouse technology so advanced, it is now even possible to grow some of the most exotic varieties in the consumer country, to prevent problems during transport. Coupled with the internet as a virtual shop, this means that the price of these wonderful flowers is within reach of everyone.

For people who would like to send exotic and tropical flowers, it is important to choose a supplier that has some credentials in dealing with them. The issue here is that many flowers that are being sold in a non-native country might need special care when transporting and stocking.

Clearly cut flowers are going to be less of a problem than live ones – even tropical flowers should be kept cold once they have been separated form their parent plant. However, it is likely that that parent plant was grown specifically to provide cut flowers for the vendor in question, and quality can vary greatly depending on their experience cultivating such flowers.

Since offering flowers of any kind, not just tropical and exotic flowers, leaves much of the responsibility for ensuring that the recipient is not disappointed with the gift that is being sent to them, it is vital that, since the sender cannot actually choose the stems for themselves, they have faith in the supplier.

Unlike regular flowers, it is also not likely that local florists stock tropical and exotic flowers, so it is difficult for online services to source the bouquets or plants close to the recipient. For this reason, the transportation also becomes quite important. As long as the online vendor has some experience, however, one can have faith in them – when in doubt, ask!

Since the flowers all have relatively unique colors and styles it is quite easy to get carried away when creating an exotic flower arrangement. Ask any florist or dried flower arranger, and they will tell you that the more variety that is available, the more difficult it will be to create something that does not look slightly overdone, regardless of the ensuing expense.

Creating Bouquets

So, when building bouquet based on tropical and exotic flowers, it often makes more sense to mix and match them in with other, less exotic varieties, in order that the bouquet remains less garish. This also helps in other ways – exotic flowers, and especially tropical ones, can sometimes need special care, and the recipient might not be aware of this. By having a selection of local varieties in with the tropical and exotic flowers, at least if the more expensive ones wither, the bouquet will remain beautiful and easy to care for.

It is also quite easy to get carried away when creating an exotic flower arrangement, so here are a few pointers as to what to look for when shopping for your next bouquet. Firstly, it is worth spending those extra dollars to get an arrangement which has been put together by a professional team; the flowers will have been chosen from the best stock, will last longer, and will be cared for better whilst in transit.

Secondly, many bouquets that include exotic flowers exist on two levels – ground and height. That is to say, exotic flowers tend to be longer stemmed, with shapely flowers, and this is often offset by a tapestry of lower lying domestic flowers which enhance this aspect of the exotic flower arrangement. It might seem strange to spend so much for so few exotic flowers, but they would overload the entire arrangement if there were too many of them.

Finally, if at all possible, make sure that when the recipient telephones to thank you for the lovely bouquet or exotic flower arrangement, that you point out any special caring tips. Finding these is easy – just use the internet and search for information on where to keep the flowers, what to feed them, how often to change the water, and so on.

Where do they come from?

One of the primary sources for tropical flowers is Hawaii – close enough that the flowers can be cut, or the plants can be dug up without any real danger that the transit from their native country to the US mainland will damage them in any way.

Of course, for Europeans wanting to buy a tropical flower arrangement, other countries close by should be able to supply them. Unlike certain exotic flowers, tropical flowers need a reasonably specific kind of environment in which to flourish, and so are usually only available as cut flowers.

A first glance might lead one to the conclusion that the average tropical cut flower is extraordinarily expensive. It is true that they are more expensive than domestic flowers, a recognition of the fact that they require expensive transportation, or expensive domestic greenhouses in which to grow them.

So, one needs to be sure that the recipient will appreciate the trouble that you have gone to in buying cut flowers fresh from a tropical flower garden, since it is certain that you will only be able to afford a few stems. In fact, looking at the selection of tropical cut flowers available, it is clear that the bouquets are likely to be rather discrete.

Creating a Tropical Gift Basket

A top tip to get around this might be to have the flowers sent to yourself, and purchase some local blooms to bolster the effect of the tropical flower bouquet before giving it to the intended recipient. If you live too far from them for this to be a possibility, then perhaps a tropical flower basket would be more appropriate.

In creating a tropical flower basket, the cut tropical flower is mixed with a variety of goods that come from the same place as the flower. This way, the recipient is aware of, and can fully appreciate the value of the flower and it’s origin. Classic tropical flower basket ideas from Hawaii include mixing the flower with items such as coffee, tropical treats, bath oils and soaps, both for men and women.

The most important element will be the flowers themselves, and it is important to make sure that they are either sourced from a reputable grower, or that the supplier of the basket is themselves a grower. Just because you are buying additional gifts to go alongside the flowers does not mean that you should skimp on the quality of the bouquet being offered.

Again, caring for cut tropical flowers and plants can be quite special, so it is worth checking to see if the site where the bouquet or plant was bought from has any tips for caring for them that you can pass on to the lucky recipient. A sign of a good retailer is that they are able to respond to any questions that you might have regarding the caring for cut or live flowers, so if in any doubt – just ask.

 

About the Author:

Guy Lecky Thompson is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers regarding Flowers, Spring flowers, Tulips, Roses, Tropical and Exotic flowers and Gift Baskets. His many articles give information and tips to help people save money and make smarter decisions.
 

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