Your flower questions

What causes cut flowers to die quickly?

The cut flower food may not have been used
Flowers have been displayed in a room, or position in the room, that is too warm
The vase used to display the flowers is dirty
The flowers stems may not have been re-cut before placing them in the vase.

Yes, when special daffodil food is used which reduces the effect of the daffodil sap from killing the other flowers.

The pollen should NOT be rubbed in
It is best to remove the pollen by lifting it off carefully with sticky tape
If the pollen has been rubbed in, or will not come off with the sticky tape, advice should be sought from a professional dry cleaner.

Always seek medical advice - especially if it has been eaten by a child
Take the empty food sachet along so that the doctor can identify the food
All the cut flower foods used are registered at the National Poisons Unit at Guy’s Hospital just in case any are eaten. Doctors know that they can contact the poisons unit 24 hours and can get advice as to what is contained in the sachet.

Only when the care card provided indicates that the plant can be planted outdoors
If this is the case care should be taken to acclimatise the plant to outdoor temperatures and higher light levels
Put the plant outside during the day and take it in at night for about a week before planting it outside – when the danger of frosts have passed.

The pot the plant has been sold in should last about a year
If the plant needs re-potting this is best carried out in the spring into a pot the next size up from the one it is currently in, this is normally 1cm larger in diameter
Repot using good quality potting compost.

Always check the care card provided with the plant, this should give a good idea of where the plant is best located in the home.

Garden plants tend to be sold when it is the best season for them to be planted
Summer bedding plants should only be planted out once the danger of frost has passed
All container grown plants i.e. shrubs and perennials can be planted out at any time but be sure to acclimatise the plant to outdoor conditions prior to planting
Put the plant outside during the day and take it in at night for about a week before planting it outside
All plants should be well watered once planted and then watered well during the first year of growth.

Keep them in a bright room, but away from direct sunlight and draughts. The ideal temperature is between 15°C and 20°C.
Orchids are planted in a specialist bark or moss which allows more air movement and provides optimum conditions for roots. The bark should be just moist and never allowed to dry out completely. Watering every 7-14 days should suffice (depending on position).
Reduce watering during the winter months. Never leave an orchid standing in water – the roots will rot easily.
If the roots begin to grow over the top of the pot please do not attempt to remove them. The roots protruding from the pot benefit the plant as much as those in the bark, as they absorb nutrients from the air and allow photosynthesis to occur.
Feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the summer months.

Orchid flowers can last for up to 3 months. Once flowering has finished the flowers will begin to fall off in succession over a 14 day period. Once completely finished, cut the stem/stems to just above the first stem joint (node). Although this appears harsh it is the best way to encourage a new flower spike.
Reduce the temperature to approximately 10°C for 4 weeks. This can be achieved by moving the plant to another room for example. A new flower bud/spike may then begin to appear during the next 12 months. Remember – the flowers are beautiful so it’s worth the wait.