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3 Tips For Picking The Right Flowers At The Market

It’s always fun walking through the flower market and picking a few handfuls of blooms for my weekend vase arrangements, but it’s important to know what to look for. After all, you don’t want to end up with a beautiful bouquet that only lasts a few days!

All flowers have different characteristics that will tell you how fresh they are, and your arrangements and cut flowers will last much longer if you use the freshest flowers and plant materials available to you.

When selecting flowers and foliage for maximum vase life, check the following.

Stems

You’ll want to select flowers with green stems and vivid foliage. Look out for any yellowing or slimy leaves––we definitely don’t want those! The stems should be stiff but supple, showing that the flowers are well hydrated.

Keep an eye out for damaged bunches or stems; holes or tears in leaves shorten their vase life as the damage can assist in attracting bacteria growth.

Buds

When flowers or buds are present, make sure the majority of the blooms are still closed. Buds that are open should be bright and fresh in appearance, so if they’re not, best to pass!

The buds should also not be transparent or have any protruding veins. If they do, it means that the flowers have been cold-stored for too long, which may result in the blooms failing to open at all. Transparent or veiny buds can also indicate that the flowers are dry.

Look for buds with a lot of colour present. Tight, colourless buds can often indicate that the blooms were cut prematurely––making them no good for your arrangement.

Petals

Look for flower petals with bright, vivid colours and make sure the veins in the petals and leaves are not visible (as previously mentioned) as this indicates they are drying out.

As flowers are natural materials, we need to be aware that not every flower we purchase will be without imperfections. However, knowing the signs of unhealthy flowers will help you a lot at the market to only pick flowers that will last.

If you’re a florist, you may sometimes receive stock from your wholesalers that needs to be returned. Don’t be afraid to do this––it’s your money and reputation at the end of the day! What can really help with minimising the likelihood of receiving poor-quality stock is building a solid relationship with your wholesalers and growers. This relationship will also make returning any sub-par flowers a lot easier.

For the budding florists among us, I talk a lot more about the signs of unhealthy flowers and how to deal with wholesalers in my Career Change Course. Enrol now and get your brand-new career underway!

Yvette x

How To Be A Florist By Christmas

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So, you’ve had dreams of owning your own little florist shop, spending your days putting posies together, surrounded by the fragrance and colour of every season’s blooms?

Well, what’s stopping you?

This moment is the right time to get started, and if you follow my tips in this blog, you can be a fully-fledged florist by Christmas. That’s just ninety days between you and your dream career. For us florists, the start of the year is a lucrative time, considering you jump right into Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day––all huge days for flowers!

Let’s get into it.

Consider: Why do I want to be a florist?

Before taking the big steps, begin with figuring out your why. Why do you want to be a florist? For some people, the love of flowers is innate and unquenchable. If this is the case for you, then becoming a florist makes sense. If floristry has always been a passion for you, then it’s likely that this path will lead somewhere fruitful.

However, if flowers don’t motivate or inspire you—if they’re just something pretty on which to focus while thinking about other things—you may want to think about looking elsewhere for your career choice.

If you’re still on the fence, consider the following:

Do you like working with people?

Do you enjoy being creative?

Are you detail-oriented?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

These are all important parts of being a successful florist, so if you’ve answered yes to the first three, it’s likely that floristry is a good path for you.

Talk to established florists

The great thing about florists is that there’s usually one or two in your area already. Give them a call and see if they’d be happy to answer a few questions over a coffee, or for you to visit them in-store and learn a thing or two.

Ask them about they got started, what mistakes they made along the way, what they would/wouldn’t recommend doing, how it is to run a floristry business day to day etc. They may even have an opening for an apprentice or an assistant––it’s always worth asking!

Research the competition in your area

Now, while having florists in your area is great for learning about the industry, these same florists will likely end up being your direct competitors. To really pinpoint what is going to make your business unique, it’s important to do your research on your competitors. What are their weaknesses? What gaps are there in their offerings? What are your customers looking to buy?

Knowing all this will help you decide your eventual product mix as you establish yourself as a new florist in the area. You want to have a clear point of difference from your competition.

Invest in a basic floristry kit

As you can imagine, a florist’s kit is an essential tool for the job. If you’re serious about becoming a professional florist by Christmas, then investing in a quality kit is absolutely necessary.

This is what you’ll want to start with:

Good quality snips – You don’t want your blades snapping halfway through your first bunch of flowers!

Heavy duty secateurs – For cutting through materials like heavy foliage, sticks and wire

Gloves – Without decent protection, your hands will be covered in pricks and slices before the first day is through!

Apron – To keep your clothes nice and dry (floristry can get a lot messier than you think)

Hand towel – I don’t recommend trying to create an arrangement without a towel on hand! (You can thank me later.)

Take the Bloom in Business course

The Bloom in Business course is a 90-day online course that takes you through everything you need to know about setting up your own floristry business. The course is run by me, a florist, and I share my experience of how I operated my own successful flower shop. The course covers all aspects of running a floristry business including how to set up your shop whether it be online or a retail store, market your services and create beautiful arrangements for your customers!

With this course, you’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge from a florist who’s seen and done it all, you’ll learn how to differentiate yourself from the competition and have all the skills you need––ready to jump into your new career for 2023.

In short, there’s a lot you can do to kickstart your floristry career and start carving out your own area in the industry, all before Christmas. If you’re still second-guessing yourself, I’ve just released a short session titled “Bloom in Business – Getting Started” where I talk through the very beginning steps of floristry business. Access is free for a limited time, as I want to make sure as many potential florists as possible get to watch it.

I can’t wait to see how you take the leap and create your own successful floristry business!

Yvette x

Are locally grown flowers really better than imports?

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Imported flowers are all too common here in Australia, and you’ve more than likely had a bunch in your vase at some point.

The ABC reported that in the winter months, as much as 90% of cut flowers sold in Australia are imports. So why is this happening when we are surrounded by local flower farms? Are imported flowers better than locally grown in any way?

The main appeal of imported flowers is their much lower price point––made possible by low wages and poor working conditions in countries like Kenya and Ecuador. This makes it incredibly hard for local growers to compete price-wise.

However, while you may have to fork out a little more money, there are so many reasons why locally grown flowers are superior to imports.

Local flowers are fresher

Imported flowers are cut a week or more before you receive them, in which time they’ve been dehydrating on a plane and suffered harsh fumigation in quarantine. Their freshness––colour, smell and energy––will decline rapidly once you get them, if it hasn’t already done so. Locally grown flowers on the other hand can last for weeks with proper care. They are cut not long before arriving at the market, sometimes on the same day, or a few days before. Locally-grown flowers will have more vibrant colours, smell stronger and look in better shape overall.

You get seasonal, native flowers

There are plenty of flower varieties that are native to Australia, and only bloom at certain times of the year. Local growers work with Australia’s seasons to provide stunning seasonal flowers that you simply can’t find among imported flowers. Native flowers like waratahs, banksias, kangaroo paws and flannel flowers have become more popular choices for wedding bouquets, statement arrangements and gifts, so having access to high quality natives is a must.

Buying local is more sustainable

Imported flowers go through a whole supply chain process before a florist ever gets their hands on them. They’re sourced from farms in developing countries like Kenya and Colombia, before making the long flight to Australia, going through quarantine at the border, then making their way to the wholesaler.

Local flowers on the other hand, are usually grown not far from the market, and have likely been cut within the last 24hrs when you get your hands on them. The whole process from farm to vase is short, simple and easy to track, meaning a much smaller carbon footprint.

Supporting local farmers

When you purchase from a local grower, you’re not only supporting that business, but you’re supporting your local economy and community. Local farmers will also provide that personal touch, going out of their way to get you the flowers you want, compared to the impersonal sales transactions that happen with imported flowers.

If you’re in Melbourne and looking to support local growers in the area, we’ve put together a list of a few of our fave local growers for you.

No toxic chemicals

As most of us who’ve travelled internationally before can attest, Australia takes its biosecurity and quarantine laws very seriously, and flower imports are no exception to this. All imported flowers from overseas are subject to extensive fumigation before they ever reach the wholesaler, often involving toxic, damaging chemicals like methyl bromide and glyphosate to kill off any foreign parasites. It’s wise to handle imported flowers with gloves to protect your skin from traces of these.

On the other hand, Aussie farmers are very restricted on what chemicals they’re allowed to use on their flowers, and many local growers are taking a sustainable, chemical-free approach to growing. This means safer, healthier flowers for you and your customers.

It’s easy to see why we prefer locally grown flowers to imports. They’re fresher, healthier, more sustainable and a great way to support the local economy. All up, they’re the better choice by far.

If you’re interested in delving further into floristry and learning more about the industry, check out our online course, Flower Fundamentals. It’s an easy introduction to commercial floristry and we look at how to make a variety of arrangements, always keeping sustainability and local growers at the forefront.

10 Sustainable Flower Growers in Victoria – Part 1

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There has been a resurgence of sustainable, “slow flower” farmers across Australia recently.

The benefits of buying locally and sustainably grown flowers are endless: lower emissions, supporting local farmers, zero toxic fumigation, and less time travelling––meaning the flowers have more time to look their best!

It’s always worth googling for local growers in your area, but here are ten we love from around Victoria.

Scout’s Garden

Scout’s Garden is an ethical flower farm located in Beechworth, VIC. They are proudly part of the “slow flower” movement here in Australia, consciously producing sustainable, seasonal flowers. Their flowers have all been lovingly nurtured and carefully handpicked, with a focus on environmentally friendly floral designs!

@scoutsgarden

Belle Àme Flower Farm

Belle Àme Flower Farm are artisan eco florists and growers, located in Drummond, in central Victoria. They specialise in old-fashioned flowers that are chosen for their beauty and scent, and might remind you of being out in grandma’s garden!

They pride themselves on growing everything from scratch without the use of chemicals, believing that when you care for the soil and the critters in the ground, the rest of the ecosystem will thrive too. Belle Àme sell directly to the public, as well as supplying local florists with bee-friendly, wholesale blooms.

@belleameflowerfarm

The Rook Blooms

The Rook Blooms is a gorgeous little family run flower farm located in Bullengarook VIC. They provide seasonal, small scale cut flowers to florists and designers, and they specialise in vibrant Dahlias and beautiful Ranunculus!

@therookblooms

Geelong Flower Farm

Geelong Flower Farm proudly stocks the largest variety of fresh cut flowers in Western Victoria. Their huge range of year-round varieties and seasonal blooms are loved by both the public and the floristry industry throughout Geelong, the Bellarine and the western district.

They are locally owned and operated, and their extensive experience in the horticultural industry means that they are only selecting the best quality flowers!

@geelongflowerfarm

Sunny Hill Flowers

Sunny Hill Flowers is a family owned Aussie business located in Silvan, Victoria. Owner Rob de Wit is a descendant of Dutch bulb growers, and he and his wife Mariske are passionate about producing new and distinct varieties of lilies.

Their climate controlled greenhouses mean that they are not limited by the Australian climate, so the flowers they produce are consistently the best quality, all year round. Sunny Hill’s emphasis on environmental responsibility and standards of production makes them a popular choice for wholesalers and florists in Victoria.

We love Sunny Hill here at Bloom College, and we even take our Career Change Course students on a trip there as part of our Local Growers tour!

@sunnyhillflowers

Maxiflora

Maxiflora is a sustainable and holistic flower practice based on beautiful Phillip Island. The van der Zwet family are third generation flower growers, who pride themselves on innovating and utilising new technology to sustainably grow, nurture and harvest their flowers.

They take sustainability super seriously! Back in 1995, Maxiflora was the first to start using recycled water, and in just the last year they reduced their plastic packaging by 90%. They share photos of their stunning roses and hydrangeas on Instagram, so be sure to check them out.

@maxiflora_

Crofters Fold

Crofters Fold is a minimal intervention rose and peony farm, located in the beautiful Macedon Ranges at Pipers Creek – just a short fifty minute drive from Melbourne.

While they also offer a luxury farmstay and their own Pinot Noir, it’s the bee-friendly selection of colourful roses and peonies that attracts florists Victoria wide.

@croftersfold

Fleurs de Lyonville

Fleurs de Lyonville is a micro flower farm located just an hour north of Melbourne, right next to the Wombat State Forest in the Daylesford and Macedon ranges region.

Their gorgeous selection of bee-friendly flowers ranges from stunning Australian natives to classic cottage blooms, all without using any harsh chemical sprays. They also employ recycling and regenerative practices in their flower farming operations!

@fleurs_de_lyonville

302 Flowers

302 Flowers are a boutique, family-owned flower farm located in the stunning Macedon Ranges. All of their flowers are sustainably slow grown and chemical-free (super friendly for all those lovely bees!).

They produce fresh cut banksias, leucadendrons, proteas, dahlias, natives and special, hand-selected unusual blooms for that special touch to their bouquets!

@302flowers

Grandiflora

Grandiflora is a family-owned rose breeder and grower that has been in business for 65 years. They are Australia’s largest fresh cut rose company, with a selection of more than 100 rose varieties in all shapes, colours and sizes!

The Grandiflora team has been committed to innovating and keeping up with industry trends since the 50s, bringing in new commercial glasshouses, a vase life testing room and year-round production technology. They love what they do and their beautiful roses are just evidence of that.

@grandifloraroses

Now, while it can seem like every florist around you is using cheaper, imported flowers, there is a huge community of us who are supporting our local growers and sustainable growing. Our Bloomers Club is a private Facebook group full of like-minded florists––both hobby and professional––who can offer support and wisdom as you navigate your own floristry journey. Click here to check it out and get plugged in.

If you’re still on the fence about purchasing locally grown flowers instead of their cheaper, imported counterparts, have a look at this blog we wrote recently about why locally grown is the better choice.