50 Plants and Their Sunlight Needs + Ftd Flowers Coupon

While we all know that flowers need sunlight to grow, the amount of hours spent under the sun should vary depending on the type. Too much or too little could result in less than stellar blooms, meaning all your effort could go to waste. From drought tolerant succulents to sun soaking sunflowers, where you live and the sunlight that’s available in your area greatly impacts how great your flowers will look.

That’s why we created the following guide, which lists 50 of our favorite flowers and their preferred sun and hardiness zone. So next time you’re shopping for flowers, you can make sure your purchase truly thrives in your yard or home.

Shine Bright

Keep your yard looking bright and bring the sunshine inside with a bountiful bouquet. Get the newest FTD coupons and promo codes that have been tested and verified in October 2015

A Compendium of American Orchids + Ftd Coupon Codes

Did you know there are more than 20,000 types of orchids in the world? That’s more than four times the number of mammal species! While most are found in tropical rainforests and grasslands in far off places, a fair amount are also native to the U.S. A favorite in homes worldwide, the “Orchidaceae” family features blooms that are vibrant, tropical and fragrant.

We decided to plot the 150+ “local” genera of orchids so you can see how impressive this flower can be. Some blooms you may even recognize, but many are so exotic they’re best left in their natural habitat.

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Create a Gh’oul Time with a Halloween Party Dinner

It’s October and time to start thinking about your fall hosting agenda and how you plan to decorate. Today I’m sharing a fun way to style a dinner for two with a Halloween theme!

Fall Florals

When creating a theme for a dinner party, I always start with the flowers. More often than not you are at the mercy of what’s in season and available at your local store. What I love about FTD.com is that you have access to a large selection of flowers throughout the year. With a Halloween-themed party on my mind, I needed a selection of fall blooms to serve as the focal point of my table. If you are stuck on where to start pull that inspiration from your flowers!

After perusing FTD.com, I found this gorgeous and rich “Giving Thanks” bouquet. The color palette says autumn, Halloween and was the perfect place to start my theme. With my color palette in mind, I went on a hunt for the fitting accompaniments for my dinner. When planning for a party with a specific theme, it’s good to give yourself a budget so that you don’t end up with items you can only use once. That being said, my wallet and I made our way to HomeGoods for some budget-friendly pieces to complement.

The easiest way to dress up your blooms and bring a theme together, is to give the fresh blooms a unique vessel. In the spring I used cheer cones for my March Madness themed party. It really helped tie the theme together and gave the flowers purpose on the table. With something like that in mind, I went hunting through the aisles of HomeGoods. I turned the corner down the Halloween section and saw this glass skull jar and it was exactly what I needed.

Autumn Accents

About one hour later, I left the store with a handful of goodies and spent less than $50. With my fresh blooms and accompaniments in hand, I started to build the table setting. I placed the floral arrangement in the skull head and was so pleased with how it turned out! You could also add food dye to the water, either black or orange, for a fun pop of color at the table!

For the table setting, I chose to use gold flatware to compliment the color of the arrangement. From there I added pieces like these gingham napkins, little ivory painted pumpkins, metallic skulls and some mercury candlesticks to create a spooky feel.

Since I didn’t add food coloring to the vase, I served orange soda in a mason jar with a black and white straw. It’s always fun to incorporate your theme colors into your food!

To-Die-For Desserts

Finally, no table is complete without a dessert tray. These chocolate-covered Oreos were the perfect addition the table! Not only are they delicious, they are dressed in fun confetti and fall-colored icing, a great way to bring the theme together! Now you know the easy and budget friendly steps to planning a gh’oul time.

Check out all the latest FTD coupon codes, promo codes & discounts for 2015

Source: https://www.ftd.com

Flower & Perfume Pairings: Find Your Signature Scent

With the hundreds of perfumes out there, it’s hard to commit to a signature scent before knowing if you’ll even like it. Lucky for us, most fragrances incorporate familiar scents—including popular flowers like iris, orchids and roses. We decided to make the selection process a little easier and match our favorite flowers (and their alluring smells) with popular perfumes. So next time you’re at the makeup counter on your fifth spritz of Eau de Parfum, pull out this guide to find your perfect match.

Ready to feel pampered?

While you shop for your signature scent, make your home feel just as alluring with one of our best selling bouquets. FTD.com is your one-stop shopping destination offering flowers for special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, and anniversaries. FTD is certainly a perfect choice for you. Using FTD coupons, Ftd Flowers Coupon 50% OFF, you can save on bouquets of roses, tulips, lilies, orchids, daisies, and even silk flowers. Check out Ftd Flowers Coupon 50% OFF for your favorite products now: 

Up to 25% OFF on Sympathy & Funeral Flowers

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Hand-Crafted Bouquets Starting At Only $39.99
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Under $35 for Flowers
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Decorating With Flowers and Color Guide

There are many ways to refresh a room that’s feeling a little lackluster. Adding a coat of paint, hanging new photos, swapping out pillows—the options are endless. But along with the tons of options comes added stress. How do you know if what you’re adding on truly complements your room?

One of our favorite ways to improve a space without making permanent changes is adding a beautiful bouquet. Not only do they look great, choosing the right arrangement can actually elevate the colors you already have in your room. We gathered our 10 favorite blooms and paired them with the colors that bring them to life. So next time you’re shopping for something to boost your decor, use our guide below!

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FTD 10% OFF Sitewide
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10% OFF Halloween Decor, Gifts, And More
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10% OFF on Fall Exclusives
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10% OFF Sunflowers
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ACTIVE FTD PROMO CODE OCTOBER 2015

ACTIVE FTD PROMO CODE OCTOBER 2015

FTD 10% OFF Sitewide
FTD offers 10% OFF Sitewide. Automatically Applied!!!

10% OFF Next Purchase W/ FTD Email Sign Up

Up to 50% OFF Gifts Baskets - Fruit, Wine, Sweets, Spa And More
Go through this FTD coupon and save up to 50% OFF gifts baskets - fruit, wine, sweets, spa and more!

10% OFF Halloween Decor, Gifts, And More
Redeem this FTD coupon and save 10% OFF Halloween Decor, Gifts, And More! No code needed! Valid through Oct 31.2015!

10% OFF on Fall Exclusives
10% OFF on Fall Exclusives at FTD: artistic bouquets in autumn-inspired vases! Offer ends Oct 19.2015!

10% OFF Sunflowers
10% OFF on sunflowers - FTD's Flower of the Month for October! Never miss such a chance!

10% OFF on Wedding Flowers & Gifts
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Up To 50% OFF Anniversary Flowers
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25% OFF Select Flowers, Gifts, and Plants
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Hand-Crafted Bouquets Starting At Only $39.99
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Mythbusters: How to Keep Flowers Fresh Longer and Shop FTD.com for saving

Just like getting rid of the hiccups, it seems everyone has a theory about how to keep flowers fresh longer. We took the five most popular theories and put them to the test — seven days in a controlled environment, under observation. It was like the hunger games, except with flowers.

The Setup

We started with five vases of the same FTD arrangement. In each vase, we put 1 FTD flower food packet along with 2 cups of lukewarm water. Then each vase received one of the tests: vodka, Sprite, apple cider vinegar & sugar, aspirin or the fridge. Halloween is coming. Redeem this FTD coupon code and save 10% OFF Halloween Decor, Gifts, And More! No code needed! Valid through Oct 31.2015!

Wondering the thought process on these crazy theories? There is some science behind them.

• Vodka —  Vodka, or any alcohol, may have a preserving effect halting ethylene production which is the gas that makes flowers wilt.

• Sprite — Sprite makes the water more acidic, which means it can travel up the stem of the flower more quickly. Also, the sugar serves as food for the flower.

• Apple cider vinegar & sugar — Vinegar acts as an antibacterial agent while the sugar serves as flower food.

• Refrigerator — Cold temperature slows aging of the flower.

• Aspirin — Aspirin may lower the pH of the water.

We changed out the water (and replenished the same ingredients into each vase) on day 3.
Here’s what happened:

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

And the Losers Are…

It turns out, flowers react a lot like people.

Case in point: The vase with Sprite did fine on days 1 and 2 but started to fade on day 3 and was a slimy mess by day 5. The vase with the vodka also did fine on days 1 and 2 but looked droopy and had grayish stems by day 4. Compare the Sprite vase to a six-year-old with a sugar high; the vodka, to a college frat boy on a bender — and suddenly flower behavior makes a lot of sense.

Scientifically, sugar acts as a carb to feed the flower, but it encourages bacterial growth. Also rooted in science, alcohol does stop the production of ethylene, but flowers, like humans, can only handle a very low percentage of alcohol.

Aspirin — Despite many a study to see if aspirin works on flowers, no concrete conclusions have been made. This might be because mediocre results rarely stand out. We didn’t find the aspirin to have any preserving effects, though it did not kill the flowers faster, either.

Runner Up Is…

Apple Cider Vinegar & Sugar —  Flowers need sugar as food. Sugar is a substantial ingredient in flower food packets. The problem is, sugar accelerates bacterial growth. And you get those gunky, slimy leaves around day 4 to prove it. The solution is to add an acid. Enter vinegar, the bacteria-fighting agent to combat any damage the sugar creates.

It’s the perfect pair, and the combo held its own in our survival-of-the-fittest trial.

The Winner Is…

Every night before hitting the hay, we put this vase of flowers in the fridge. They were typically in there for about eight hours. When we woke up, we took the flowers out and displayed them with the others on the dining room table. It seems such a simple solution, but it kept our flowers fresh well through day 7. It makes sense that florists keep their flowers inside a large refrigerator.

Though anchored in science, many of the theories only have an inkling of truth to them. Your best bet to keep your flowers alive longer is using the flower food packet that comes with your arrangement and placing them in the fridge overnight.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Cutting Flowers for Vase Size

The ability to design a flower arrangement is a gift. But even the most amature among us can still learn the basics. If you don’t have a natural green thumb, the easiest way to quickly improve your flower bouquets is with the fairly basic art of flower cutting. A well-manicured floral arrangement is the boldest way to liven a table or room!

Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, my green thumb ends up squishing my floral dreams. 

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Fortunately, there are a few easy steps that have helped me, and might also help you step up your game. (You likely do a variation of these steps anyways.)

How to Choose a Vase

Vases are like flowers’ significant other and when paired improperly, you might be looking at a relationship that won’t last long. I am guilty of this, especially with tulips! For some reason, I always cut them for a wide-neck vase only to watch them run away from each other. Here I have paired three different bouquets with their perfect significant others.

It’s important to consider stem length when pairing a bouquet with a vase. Here you will see that I have a long-stem bouquet paired with a long narrow vase. I can trim the bottoms without losing any of the bouquet. The narrow top gives the illusion of a full vase. The same goes for the shorter stem bouquet. A short, wide-mouth vase requires a shorter, fuller bouquet.

Don’t Get Sharp with Me

One of the most important factors to floral longevity is trimming the ends. Do yourself a favor – go out and purchase a pair of floral sheers. It’s a small investment, but make sure they are clean and sharp. Flowers have vascular systems, which suck up the water. If cut improperly you mind as well send your flowers straight to the desert.

Pay close attention to the length of the stems when cutting, measure properly and angle the sheers at a 45-degree angle to make a clean slice. This provides a larger mouth for the stem and allows for a larger uptake of water. Anything else will prevent the stem from proper water intake.

Once you have cut the stems, go back and remove the excess foliage. If you leave it on, it’ll make the water murky and smelly.

For larger bouquets, trim the outer circumference of flowers slightly shorter than those in the middle. This gradual difference will round out the arrangement and provide the best viewing of all the beautiful flowers.

Feed Me, I’m Starving

No one likes swimming in cold water, including flowers. Take the time to run the faucet so it heats to lukewarm temperature. This allows for the stems to absorb the water faster. Pour the packet of flower food in the warm water before you place the flowers in the vase. Stir the powder around until it’s dissolved, and make sure the food is completely absorbed before adding the flowers. Then, voila! You have yourself a beautiful arrangement that would make Martha Stewart smile.

Celebrate Sweetest Day: Throw a Party for Your Sweets

Between family, work and household chores, it’s all too easy to get caught up in your everyday shuffle. But when you do take the time to slow down, enjoy the moment and show others your gratitude for all they do, it pays off so much that you’re often left asking yourself, “why don’t I do this every day?”

That concept of showing your gratitude and paying it forward was the impetus for Sweetest Day. While it would be easy to write this off as another “Hallmark holiday,” invented to sell goods, Sweetest Day actually has no ties to Hallmark or any other greeting card company. The origin of the holiday tells a heartwarming story of a more innocent time that may even make the most cynical share some sweet treats with someone special on October 17.

The Sweetest History

Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October and has been since the 1920s. While various sources list the first Sweetest Day as early as 1921 and as late as 1927, the story itself is quite consistent: Herbert Birch Kingston, an employee at a candy company, generously gave away candy to forgotten people who needed some cheer. He spent the day distributing candy to orphans, the disabled and the underprivileged.

Kingston’s idea caught on and soon others in Cleveland, Ohio, began participating in Sweetest Day. Soon, local movie stars Anne Pennington and Theda Bara joined in, sending thousands of boxes of candy to newspaper delivery boys, hospitals and movie theaters. Within a few years, the saccharine holiday was celebrated in surrounding cities and states, and to this day is still celebrated throughout the Midwest. Over the years, the focus has broadened to include sharing sweet treats with family, friends and other loved ones as well.

How to Observe Sweetest Day

When it comes to celebrating Sweetest Day, the only real requirement is to share something sweet with someone. Whether it’s a box of chocolates for your assistant, your wife’s favorite macarons from the local French bakery or going to the local children’s hospital and distributing candy, the sentiment of thoughtfulness is all that matters. You don’t even necessarily need to give anything that tastes sweet; a sweet gesture like a from-the-heart greeting card or having fresh flowers delivered are also lovely ways to celebrate Sweetest Day. Go through this FTD coupon and save up to 50% OFF gifts baskets - fruit, wine, sweets, spa and more!Go through this FTD coupons and save up to 50% OFF gifts baskets - fruit, wine, sweets, spa and more!

Host a Sweetest Day Bash

Send out invitations using candy-themed stationery to friends and family for an afternoon of festivities. Have all guests meet at your home bringing a variety of their favorite sweets to share. Once everyone has arrived, caravan down to the local shelter to volunteer serving a meal and share the treats with the less fortunate. After a few hours spent giving back to the community, return to your home with your nearest and dearest for a happy hour celebration. Serve simple hors d’oeuvres, libations and a delectable dessert bar, piled with cakes, cookies and candy. To present a Pinterest-worthy spread, be sure to use a glass cake pedestals, tiered serving stands and footed apothecary jars in a variety of heights to create visual interest. Arrange the dessert bar on a long table along an uncluttered wall. Hang crepe paper garlands or honeycomb fans behind the dessert table in colors that complement the treats to ensure that none of the guests can miss your Sweetest spread.

Decorating With Flowers and Color Guide

There are many ways to refresh a room that’s feeling a little lackluster. Adding a coat of paint, hanging new photos, swapping out pillows—the options are endless. But along with the tons of options comes added stress. How do you know if what you’re adding on truly complements your room?

One of our favorite ways to improve a space without making permanent changes is adding a beautiful bouquet. Not only do they look great, choosing the right arrangement can actually elevate the colors you already have in your room. We gathered our 10 favorite blooms and paired them with the colors that bring them to life. So next time you’re shopping for something to boost your decor, use our guide below!

Ready for a refresh?

While you shop, order a fresh bouquet to arrive at your doorstep and bring together your vision.

FTD.com is your one-stop shopping destination offering flowers for special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, and anniversaries. FTD is certainly a perfect choice for you. Using FTD coupons, Ftd Flowers Coupon 50% OFF, you can save on bouquets of roses, tulips, lilies, orchids, daisies, and even silk flowers. Check out Ftd Flowers Coupon 50% OFF for your favorite products now!