PORT ANGELES GARDEN CLUB
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THE POWER OF THE FLOWER
                                                  A Florist's Guide to Flower Care and Maintenance

 As many flower enthusiasts will tell you, there is nothing more beautiful than a flower in bloom. They'll most likely also tell you that there is nothing more upsetting than seeing a beautiful set of flowers begin to wilt before their time. While wilting is a fate that all flowers will eventually experience, wilting can be delayed through careful flower care and maintenance. The following information will outline some tips on caring for flowers.

Sunlight
There are three main factors when working with garden flowers outdoors - sunlight, water, and the soil. The amount of sunlight a plant is recommended to receive is often included on the tag that comes with a plant. The amount of recommended sunlight is generally broken into four categories - full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight), partial sun (4-5 hours of sun), partial shade (2-4 hours of sun), and shade (less than 1 hour of sun).
Signs that a plant is receiving too much sun include:
  • Flower petals drying out
  • Leaves drying out or looking burned
  • Leaves or flowers have the coloring appearing washed out
Signs your plant aren't receiving enough sun include:
  • Lanky and sparse stems
  • Fewer flowers
  • Entire plant lengthens and stretches towards the sun
  • Sparse growth

​Water
 Water is an extremely important resource for plants, and is often a source of plant distress. It is difficult to prevent excess water from an abundance of rain, however one thing that you can do is to ensure that your plant has proper drainage. Water pooling next to plants interferes with the respiration of the plant and can cause rotting.
Signs that your plants are getting too much water:
  • Wilting with the leaves not being crispy
  • Leaves turn yellow or brown and are limp
  • Edema - blisters will form on the leaves as the water pressure in the plant builds
Signs you are under watering your plant:
  • Wilting with the leaves being dry and crispy
  • Soil is very dry
  • Slow growth

Soil

  Most plants benefit from a rich organic soil. There are 16 different elements that are known to be important to a plant's health. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are the three primary nutrients and are the nutrients that gardeners are most familiar with. Fertilizer that is purchased from a store almost always has the concentrations of the three primary nutrients. Different soil compositions have different effects on nutrient levels and effect plants in different ways. Sandy soils have excellent drainage, however nutrients are often leached out as the water passes through the soil. Clay soils have poor drainage however are able to retain nutrients much easier than sandy soil.
The pH of the soil is also an important factor in gardening. pH is a scale of acidity and goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being extremely acidic, 7 being neutral in acidity, and 14 being an extreme base. Most plants prefer slightly acidic soil, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. Soil additives such as lime can be mixed into soils to modify the pH of the soil. Adding organic material to soil is another way to modify the pH of the soil, and has the effect of adjusting the soil to be more neutral in pH.

Indoor Potted Plants
 Indoor potted plants require much of the same flower maintenance that garden plants do. With an indoor plant, many more of the variables are directly under the gardener's control. If a plant is receiving too much or too little sunlight, the plant can be moved away from or towards a window. Watering of the plant should be done on a consistent basis, generally once or twice a week. Make sure your pot has a tray and holes in the bottom so that excess water flows out the bottom of the pot and into the tray so the plant doesn't drown.

Cut Flowers
​ Once a flower is cut, it loses its source of sustenance and begins the process of dying. Once a flower is cut, it should be placed in a vase of water as soon as possible. Often times the florist will make a fresh-cut on the bottom of the stems, however it doesn't hurt to give them another cut when you get home and before you put them in the vase. Stems should be cut at an angle to maximize their ability to take in water. Make sure that you don't have any leaves submerged in the water, as they will decay quickly and severely lower the quality of the water. Every day or two, flower maintenance should be performed, where the water is changed if it is dirty, and a fresh-cut is made on the stem.
Once a flower is cut, it no longer is able to pull in nutrients from the roots of the plant. In order to prolong the lives of the flowers, special flower food that is often provided by the florist should be added to the water. Cut flower food is often made of an acidified (to prolong life), sugar (for plant energy), and other nutrients. With appropriate flower care and maintenance, cut flowers can last up to 3 weeks or sometimes even longer.

Helpful Links
  • How much light do plants need?
  • How much light is enough?
  • Signs you are underwatering your plant
  • Plant nutrient information
  • Understanding soil pH
  • Information about how pH affects soil and plants, and how to change it
  • 10 tips for planning your indoor garden
  • How to start seeds indoors
  • A guide to indoor gardening
  • 8 tops for indoor gardening
  • Cutting and preparing flowers for arrangements
  • How to make your fresh-cut flowers last
  • Extend the Life of Cut Flowers
  • Guidelines for Watering Indoor Plants
  • pH For the Garden
Written By Ava Rose.
  • ABOUT US
    • COMMUNITY PHOTOS and EVENTS >
      • 2024 >
        • 2024 Clallam County Fair
      • 2023 >
        • 2023 GOLD STAR MARKER DEDICATION
        • 2023 STATE BOARD MEETING
        • 2023 CLALLAM COUNTY FAIR
        • 2023 ART IN BLOOM
        • 2023 OLYMPIC VIEW CARE
        • 2023 PARK VIEW VILLA FLORAL PARTY
      • 2022 >
        • 2022 ART IN BLOOM
        • 2022 Clallam County Fair
        • 2022 MAPLE TREE TOUR
        • 2022 PAGC PICNIC
        • 2022 Park View Village Christmas
        • 2022 SEATTLE GARDEN SHOW
      • 2021 >
        • 2021 Art in Bloom
        • 2021 CRESTWOOD ACTIVITIES
        • 2021 ENNIS CREEK TOUR
      • 2020 >
        • 2020 VIRTUAL FLOWER SHOW
        • 2020 VIRTUAL GARDEN TOUR
        • 2020 SUCCLENT PROJECT
        • 2020 Holiday Floral Competition
      • 2019 >
        • 2019 ARBOR DAY
        • 2019 Bogachiel
        • 2019 Bulb Planting Results!!
        • 2019 City Basket Planting
        • 2019/2018 CLALLAM COUNTY FAIR
        • 2019 Downtown Bulb Planting
        • 2019 Far Reaches Farm Tour
        • 2019 Members Garden Tour
        • 2019 Seashell Crafts
        • 2019 Seattle Flower Show
        • 2019 Senior Center Weed Party
        • 2019 Spring District Meeting
        • 2019 Sunny Farms Tour
      • 2018 AND PREVIOUS YEARS >
        • 2018 Art in Bloom
        • 2018 City Basket Planting
        • 2017 Fairy Garden Workshop
        • 2017 Picnic
        • 2016 Downtown Planters
        • 2016 Summer Picnic
        • 2015 Arbor Day
        • 2015 Cement Leaves
        • 2015 CITY BASKETS
        • 2015 Downtown
        • 2015 PLANT-A-RAMA
        • 2015 Stepping Stones
        • 2015 Summer Picnic
        • 2014 Planting Downtown
        • 2013 Cement Leaves
        • BOGACHIEL TEAS >
          • 2018 Bogachiel Tea
          • 2017 Bogachiel Antiqus & Roses
          • 2016 Bogachiel "Rainwashed Gems"
          • 2015 Bogachiel Tea
        • DONATIONS
        • DOWNTOWN PLANTERS
        • FLOWER SHOWS >
          • 2018 Bring on Spring Flower Show
          • 2018 Flower School IV
        • SUCCULENT PARTY
        • BLUE STAR MARKER
        • DISCOVERY TRAIL
      • THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
      • GREEN THUMB AWARDS >
        • 2023 FALL GREEN THUMB
        • 2023 SUMMER GREEN THUMB
        • 2023 SPRING GREEN THUMB
        • 2022 FALL GREEN THUMB
        • 2022 SUMMER GREEN THUMB
    • COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS
    • PICTURES FROM MEETINGS-LUNCHES- >
      • 2024 - 2025 MEETINGS and PRESENTATIONS
      • 2023 2024 MEETINGS and PRESENTATIONS
      • 2022 2023 MEETINGS and PRESENTATIONS
      • 2021 - 2022 - 2023 SPECIAL MTG PHOTOS
      • 2019 DECEMBER
      • 2019 Installation of Officers
      • 2019 May Meeting
      • 2019 Salad Contest
      • 2019 Lincoln Heights Tea
      • 2019 March Meeting
      • November 19 Wreath Design
      • 2018 New Members Luncheon
      • 2018 June Luncheon @ Cedars
      • 2018 Lincoln Heights GC Tea
      • 2018 IAN's Visit
      • 2017 December 18
      • 2017 Installation Luncheon
      • 2016 Installation Luncheon
      • October 15 - Cisco!
      • 2015 Installation Luncheon
      • 2015 WSFGC CONVENTION
      • 2014 December Luncheon and Snowman Making Fun
      • 2012 75th Anniversary/December
    • SCHOLARSHIPS >
      • SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
    • SPECIAL ARTICLES >
      • BOBBIE'S BIRDS
      • BIRD NESTING MATERIALS
      • NEONICATOIDS, PESTICIDES AND SEEDS
      • PLASTIC CONSERVATION
      • PURPLE MARTIN PROJECT
      • VOLES
      • CRAFTS
      • FLOWER POWER
      • YOUTH CONTESTS
  • PLANT SALES
    • 2025 Plant Sale
    • 2024 Plant Sale
    • 2023 Plant Sale
    • 2022 Plant Sale
    • 2019 Plant Sale
    • 2018 Plant Sale Contributors
    • 2017 Plant Sale
    • 2016 Plant Sale
    • 2015 Plant Sale
    • 2014 plant sale
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    • 2012 Plant Sale
  • FOREVER STREAMFEST
    • 2024 FOREVER STREAMFEST
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  • WREATH MAKING PARTIES
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    • 2018 Wreath Making
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    • 2015 Wreath Designing
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    • 2013 Wreath Designing
    • 2018 BOWMAKING PARTY
  • MEMBERS GARDENS
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  • MEMBERS ONLY
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    • RECORDS >
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    • YEARBOOKS >
      • 2024 - 2025 Yearbook
      • 2023 - 2024 YEARBOOK
      • 2021 - 2023 YEARBOOK
      • 2019-2020 YEARBOOK
    • BYLAWS
    • NGC AWARDS APPLIED FOR